The crowd gathered at the southern edge of the city, eyes squinting into the distance as shapes began to emerge from the forest. What started as a smattering of beings quickly multiplied into dozens—large, formidable figures, barely discernible but nonetheless imposing due to their size.
General Valthorn, fresh from his reconnaissance mission, stood among them. "From what I've gathered, it seems we're dealing with a splinter group of a migrating war tribe. They're not particularly intelligent, but they make up for it in sheer aggression. Expect them to attack as soon as they lay eyes on us. Fortunately, their eyesight is quite poor, so we're likely just blurry forms to them at the moment. It's the scent of our city that's drawing them closer."
The gravity of the situation tightened its grip on the gathered crowd. "If we don't neutralize this threat swiftly, they'll catch on and call for reinforcements," the General continued. "And trust me, we don't want the full might of those Orcish tribes converging on our location. The consequences would be dire."
The atmosphere thickened with tension as the citizens steeled themselves for the confrontation ahead, their eyes fixed on the encroaching menace that loomed ever closer.
"What if we hung some fresh meat from the walls to entice them?" Rose proposed.
"Excellent idea," Talgrin agreed. "The scent of fresh blood will make them blindly aggressive. Horde members foolish enough to break away from the main body are usually more susceptible to such tricks."
"Quickly, bring over one of those deer and a wind mage!" Dorgran commanded, pulling a length of rope from his inventory. In a few swift movements, he had the deer securely tied and hoisted onto the side of the wall facing the forest. Turning to the wind mage who had just arrived, he instructed, "We need a wind to carry the scent from here to them. Can you make that happen?"
"Certainly," the mage responded. With a flourish of his arms, he initiated a wind spell, twirling once before extending his arms outward. He repeated this gesture until a consistent breeze began flowing from the wall toward the forest.
The party watched as the Orcs in the distance started sniffing the air, their heads swiveling as they searched for the source of the smell. Once they identified the direction, they lunged forward, a pack of about 40 in total.
General Valthorn swiftly barked out instructions. "Centaurs, exit through the side gates and only flank them after engagement. They must not be allowed to retreat to the forest for backup. Wall guards with long pikes, relocate to this side immediately. Rose, prepare to unleash your most potent spells when they arrive."
"Ed, stand at ground level in front of the gate and use your taunt spell. This will cause them to cluster together. Rose, that’s your cue. Aim your area-of-effect spells at that spot and pull out all the stops."
Warriors and mages scrambled to take their positions, the air thick with tension and anticipation. Victoria remained by Ed's side as he limped toward the gate, mentally preparing to taunt the oncoming horde. The city's defenders sensed the gravity of the upcoming clash; they knew that their actions in the next few moments could determine the fate of their home.
As the Orcs slammed into the wall, the entire structure tremored, as if shaking from the sheer force of their assault. Recognizing the cue, General Valthorn signaled to Ed, who was strategically positioned behind the gate. With a solemn nod, Ed activated his taunt skill. Almost immediately, the Orcs, who had been hacking away indiscriminately, began to converge toward the center of the wall, their bloodshot eyes locking onto Ed as if he were their singular focus.
Standing steadfast by his side, Victoria couldn't help but feel a pang of concern. She was resolute in her support, but the toll of the endless battles weighed on her mind. Ed seemed to give endlessly of himself, even when it was clear he was running on fumes. She found herself wondering about their future—would it always be this way? Would their lives be an unending cycle of near-death experiences and harrowing escapes?
But such thoughts would have to wait. For now, they had a city to defend, and the next few minutes would decide everything.
The air grew heavy with tension, as if the very atmosphere were holding its breath. All eyes turned to Rose, standing atop the battlements, her palms glowing with ethereal light. Then, with a voice that cut through the chaotic symphony of battle, she uttered a single word, "Kaldljos."
In that instant, the world seemed to pause—a stillness so absolute it was as if time itself had frozen. What followed was an elemental explosion. The air before the fortification ignited with ethereal Frost Flames, a torrent of icy blue fire that roared forward. The ground trembled as the incandescent flames enveloped the Orcish horde. Screams of agony pierced the air as the Orcs struggled against the force of the spell, unable to break free from its inexorable pull.
But Rose was far from finished. Harnessing the residual energy that lingered in the atmosphere, she weaved another incantation. Electric energy coalesced between her outstretched fingertips, crackling with anticipation. Then, like a web of death, Chain Lightning arced from Orc to Orc along the periphery of the group. Any notion of escape was electrocuted in an instant.
Cycling through her spell list with practiced ease, Rose unleashed Wind Blades—razor-sharp gusts that sliced through the air, severing limbs and cutting down those who remained standing. Between these magical onslaughts, pikemen lining the walls thrust their weapons downward, piercing through Orcish flesh and bone, capitalizing on the openings her spells had created.
The battle, if it could even be called that, was over in mere minutes. The potency of her magic had decimated the Orcish ranks, leaving the battlefield littered with fallen foes and smoldering remains. The smell of scorched earth and burnt flesh hung heavily in the air.
As the last remnants of her Frost Flames flickered out, a silence descended upon the battlefield—a silence born not just from the absence of life, but from awe. The defenders on the walls looked toward Rose with a newfound reverence. Here was a woman of their own, a pillar of their community, who had defended them not with swords or shields, but with arcane might that few could even fathom. And in that moment, they all knew that they had witnessed something that transcended mere magic; it was the manifestation of a will to protect, and it was awe-inspiring.
Elders Talgrin and Dorgran exchanged a meaningful glance before barking out orders to clear the gates and commence the cleanup. As the massive doors creaked open, defenders and laborers alike sprang into action, moving with a sense of urgency to repair and reinforce the wall. Some ropes that had held logs together had snapped under the force of the Orcish onslaught and needed immediate retying.
General Valthorn surveyed the scene with a critical eye. "I'm aware we have plans to reinforce our defenses, but I believe we need to refocus our efforts on this existing wall. If a more formidable force attacks us while we're still building the new wall, we could be severely compromised."
Bruce and Amelia nodded in agreement. "We have a few options for that," Bruce began. "If we're pressed for time, we could expend significant trade resources, but it would deplete our reserves. Alternatively, there's the Advanced Wooden Defenses option. It would consume the 1,100 logs we have in storage, along with a majority of the ice crystals my son left us. In return, the walls would become five feet taller, two feet thicker, and 25% denser."
The elders weighed the options for a moment. Finally, Dorgran spoke, "Timber and cores are replaceable; lives are not. I say we go for it."
A chorus of nods and murmured agreements followed his statement. "I'll head to the crystal to initiate the upgrade," Bruce announced. "I'll also send out a message advising everyone to vacate the walls temporarily."
As the word spread, General Valthorn began organizing another scouting mission. This time, he chose to send out more feline BeastKin, their unparalleled forest-stalking abilities making them the ideal candidates for the task. "While they're on that, I'll take to the skies for a bird's-eye view of the Orc horde. We need a clearer picture of their numbers and intentions."
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*****
Two Orc scouts lurked in the shadowy veil of the forest, positioned about 20 feet behind the tree line. Their gaze was fixed on the younglings who had ventured out to challenge the unassuming settlement ahead. The pair were seasoned watchers, tasked with monitoring the youthful warriors until they exhausted their reckless impulses and returned to the horde.
Upon seeing the village's simple wooden palisade, the scouts initially dismissed it as an easy target. But something was unsettling them, something related to the recent, mysterious change within the horde. Ever since an enigmatic emissary had held a closed meeting with their war chief, the newborn Orcs displayed unsettling characteristics—unprecedented aggression, a remarkable lack of intelligence, and even greater physical size. The transformation was so rapid and inexplicable that it left the older generations puzzled, and a bit uneasy.
It had only been a week since that mysterious encounter, and already the horde had inexplicably altered its course on this new, foreign planet, heading directly toward this settlement. A sense of foreboding whispered in the wind, but questioning the war chief was tantamount to a death sentence.
What the scouts witnessed next only intensified their unease. They watched in awe and disbelief as the seemingly insurmountable strength of the village crushed their young warriors. When Centaur riders burst forth from the settlement, circling around the disoriented Orcs to ensure none escaped, it became clear that taking this village wouldn't be as straightforward as they'd assumed. The resilience and magic of its defenders were extraordinary; it was as if a dragon sat upon the village walls, enveloping it in a protective embrace.
The scouts exchanged a glance filled with unspoken dread, then cautiously retreated deeper into the forest. They would have to report this unexpected turn of events to the horde. The village before them was not just any settlement; it was a fortress in disguise, a sleeping dragon that had just begun to stir.
It took just over an hour for the scouts to race back to the Horde. Along the way, they began to notice fellow scouts running parallel to the Horde, vigilant for ambushes or vulnerable targets. The scouts felt a twinge of confusion; the Horde's marching direction had inexplicably shifted. Originally plotted to pass a mile north of the newly-discovered village, the new route seemed designed to avoid it altogether.
A growing sense of uncertainty pervaded the air, an unease that any perceptive orc would recognize. Passing through the outer picket lines, the scouts made their way to the command center. Even as they prepared to deliver their report, the Horde continued its enigmatic march toward an unknown destination.
"Commander, the younglings encountered a small village approximately two hours to the north and were obliterated against its walls. There were no survivors," reported the senior scout, sticking to the raw facts and withholding any personal opinions unless explicitly asked.
The Commander exhaled deeply. "How would you assess the village's strength?"
The second scout weighed in, "Initially, it appeared to be an easy target, but as soon as contact was made, their defenses sprang to life. It's difficult to gauge their numbers, but we observed at least thirty defenders, Centaurs included."
The Commander scoffed, "Regardless of their strength, they won't be enough to deter us. I'll inform the chieftain; that village is next on our list."
As they dispersed, the unanswered questions lingered heavily in the air. Both scouts couldn't shake off the sensation that they were bit players in a much larger and murkier drama, one they were neither privy to nor capable of fully comprehending.
The scouts exchanged a fleeting glance, their eyes meeting for just a moment, before nodding in acknowledgment of the Commander's decision.
"Understood, Commander," said the senior scout, keeping his opinions securely locked behind a mask of neutrality. He couldn't help but wonder if this decision was hastened by the recent changes within the Horde, changes that seemed to veer them toward unnecessary conflict.
"As you wish, sir," chimed in the second scout, equally puzzled by the sudden shift in marching direction that would completely bypass the formidable village they had just scouted. It seemed as though the course was deliberately altered to avoid it, but for what reason?
The Commander nodded and gestured for them to leave. "You're dismissed. Be prepared to guide us to the village when the time comes."
As the scouts retreated, they still couldn't shake off the gnawing suspicion that something larger was at play, something that their war-hardened instincts told them was not right. The inexplicable alterations in direction, the rapid behavioral changes among the newborn Orcs, the war chief's mysterious meeting—all these unknowns were coalescing into a haze of uncertainty that veiled the Horde's true purpose.
Despite their doubts, they knew better than to question the chain of command. Yet, the more they pondered the impending confrontation with the defended village, the more it felt like they were pawns in a grander scheme, orchestrated by forces beyond their understanding.
And so, as the Horde continued its relentless march towards an enigmatic destination, the two scouts couldn't help but cast wary glances toward the horizon, where a village of unexpected strength lay, harboring defenders who had proven to be anything but ordinary. Would this be the place where the Horde's unyielding advance would finally meet its match? Only time would tell.
*****
Within the fortified walls of Wolf's Run, a new sense of urgency gripped its inhabitants. As Bruce activated the Advanced Wooden Defenses, the walls shimmered a ghostly white. For two awe-inspiring minutes, the shimmering continued, after which the walls materialized as sturdier, taller, and denser versions of themselves. Bruce marveled at the engineering marvel unfolding before him; the System was indeed a spectacle of efficiency and power.
A raft of projects was already underway to fortify the village further that ended up taking the rest of the day to complete. Workers labored tirelessly to deepen the moats, crisscrossing the layout to confuse would-be invaders. Others planted sharpened stakes at the bottom to maim anyone unlucky enough to fall in. Ammunition was being stockpiled against the revamped walls and crenellations, ensuring the archers and arbalests were well-supplied. The village was ramping up for war, and everyone could only hope they were fast enough.
In the midst of this hive of activity, Ed finally felt strong enough to undergo his Race upgrade. Accompanied by Victoria, he began the process. Grateful for her guidance, Ed listened intently as she walked him through what he had missed. Meanwhile, Victoria seized the opportunity to practice her newly acquired Cleanse spell—a result of her frustration with the grime that came from living in a world of wood, mud, and endless battles.
Ed, who had been an avid gamer with a lifestyle that was less than pristine before the System's arrival, expelled an alarming amount of impurities during the upgrade. The process was so overwhelming that he found himself gagging and vomiting. Victoria's laughter filled the air.
"It's not funny," Ed sputtered between bouts of nausea. "My shapeshifting enhances my sense of smell. This is literal nightmare fuel."
Aware that Ed was wearing his self-cleaning suit, Victoria leaned in and cast her Cleanse spell. With a wink, she quickly retreated, leaving the area smelling markedly better. Ed took the opportunity to rinse off, grateful for her intervention.
Seizing this moment of solitude, Ed delved into the labyrinth of skill choices available to him. He remembered the tactical discussions from the meeting and made his selections accordingly. There was no time to waste and he could no longer wait until he felt better as he had been planning; the impending threat loomed over them all, sharpening each decision with the weight of survival.
Ed carefully weighed his options as he navigated through the race skill choices, always cognizant of the need to build a balanced yet formidable character.
For his level 1 skill, he picked Rush. It was straightforward—ideal for closing the distance between him and his enemies in a flash, all while knocking down or stunning those who dared stand in his way.
At level 5, he chose Crushing Blow. A skill designed to bypass a portion of an opponent's armor, it also came with a heightened chance of inflicting debilitating debuffs. He envisioned this as particularly potent when dealing with heavily armored foes.
For his level 10 skill, he opted for the passive skill of Increased Armor. Given his multi-form abilities, this skill was invaluable, as it not only increased his natural armor but also enhanced his resilience in his animal forms.
By level 15, after a close call involving poison nearly costing him his life, Ed was all too aware of his vulnerabilities. So he chose Increased Resilience, another passive skill, to bolster his natural resistances against toxins and elemental damage like cold and fire. The skill also accelerated the rate at which he acquired new resistances—a safeguard against future threats.
At level 20, he chose something that many might consider unconventional for a warrior—Herbalism. The skill granted him the ability to identify and harvest various plants and herbs, crucial for potion-making. Ed had a soft spot for alchemy and saw this as an opportunity to diversify his abilities beyond combat.
For his final racial skill, Ed selected Enraged Stomp. With this, he gained the ability to control crowds by sending out a powerful stomp that not only damaged enemies but had a 25% chance to inflict a dizzying debuff. In his mind's eye, he could already see how devastating this skill could be, especially when he was in his bear form.
Fully committed to his new skill set, Ed felt a surge of anticipation. Each choice was a strategic building block, bringing him one step closer to becoming the formidable force he aimed to be. All that remained was to put these skills into action, a prospect that seemed increasingly likely given the looming threats facing Wolf's Run.
Having navigated through his racial options, Ed now had the opportunity to select from the more potent Class skills. These choices promised to significantly elevate his capabilities, and he felt a sense of excitement looking at the menu before him.
For his first Class skill, he selected Elemental Roar, a decision that was influenced by the sheer utility it promised. This wasn't just a minor advantage; as a Class skill, it had a more profound effect. Once triggered, his bear form would emit a soul-shaking roar, imbuing not only himself but also his allies with potent elemental damage bonuses. In a group battle, this skill had the potential to be a tide-turner.
Next, he chose Thunderous Hooves for his Class Level 5 skill. This wasn't your run-of-the-mill speed boost; it was an electrifying game-changer. Tailored for his horse form, the skill also granted all his other forms—including his human form—an impressive 5% increase in attack speed. The extra oomph in the skill's power made this choice a no-brainer.
Faced with his last Class skill choice, Ed hesitated momentarily. Should he opt for a skill that would bolster his less-utilized bird form? But in the end, he couldn't resist the allure of Summon Familiar. His penchant for Druid-style gameplay in other games influenced him heavily here. As a Class skill, he knew the familiar he summoned would be more formidable and versatile than its racial skill counterparts.
Satisfied with his selections, Ed washed off the residue from the upgrade process and dressed. As he stepped out of the bath area, he felt as if he had shed years of wear and tear. No remnants of his previous aches remained. An unparalleled zest coursed through his veins, making him feel like he could take on any challenge.
Although he hadn't yet tested his newfound abilities, Ed knew one thing for sure: whatever challenges lay ahead for Wolf's Run, he was now far better equipped to meet them. And in a world as perilous as the one they found themselves in, every advantage counted.