[h2]Orc Camp[/h2]
[hr][@ERode][@ReusableSword][hr]
"Don't ask me!" Auguz growled as Esfir departed. "Whenever I gets ready to train youse bunch again, ya'll will know!" Upon picking her rewards from the chest at the Warchief's Dwelling, she would finally have some proper gear with which to begin the next part of her journey.

[quote=SYSTEM: Esfir]Your Wolffur Cloak, Leather Shoes, and Antler Bracers all grant a Light Defense Boost. [b]Your total Defense Boost is Medium![/b]

Gained Weapon!
[b]Bolas[/b] - Equip, 1H Weapon, Thrown - [i]At close range these rocks tied with strong cord can be used as a flail. When thrown with a proper arc and spin, they can inflict the Bind status on an enemy![/i][/quote]

The mountains around the camp served as a natural barrier against the outside world, but they weren't impossible to climb. In some places the rock walls were sheer, of course, but in others Esfir would be able to find handholds and footholds. Near the nearly-dry spring, running water over the years had sent cracks and fractures webbing through several large stones in the rocky face. She would be able to pick and pull her way up onto a ledge, probably one too narrow for an adult orc to have used, and from this edge she would be able to take a winding, switchback path to an upper outcrop overlooking the rest of the camp. From there, it would be a matter of finding new handholds, creeping along goat trails, looking for big rocks that could serve as platforms to jump across...

[b]But, then, she heard Agar's voice calling out to her.[/b]

Agar, for his part, accepted Auguz's words eagerly before gathering his new supplies. His clothing choices didn't look especially odd to the other orcs, so no one questioned him on the modifications he made to the pieces of roughspun fabric or fur. His Sling came with a small pouch of ammunition--[b]12 rocks worn smooth[/b], either because they were picked from a river, or because they'd been rubbed together, who could say. However, their points had been ground down until they were almost sharp. These weren't just pebbles, but [b]proper sling bullets[/b] meant to pierce a target. Such a weapon had slain Goliath according to the histories of his old world, even again bronze and scale armor. As far as primitive weapons went, it would be pretty devastating--if he became skilled enough with it to land a shot.

In addition, the System informed him that his Buckskin pants he'd received from Shamar, the Buckskin Shirt he chose from the pile, and the Leather Boots all offered a Light Defense Boost--[b]bringing his Total Defense Boost up to Medium level.[/b]
[hr][@King Cosmos][hr]
Akeno's wooden sword cracked against her opponent's knee as she intercepted his blow with her shield. Her defending arm rattled even with only half the force of that longer sword, as even without leverage the greater weight and strength of her opponent came to bear. Still, her opponent cried out and went down to a kneeling position--but, as he let go of his sword, his eyes blazed as he shot forward! Under her upraised shield arm, he dove into her guard and wrapped both arms around her waist!

Their feet scrabbled at the earth. The male orc was trying to either pick her up and slam her down, or "run" her into the ground like a greco-roman grappler. Whichever way Akeno's balance gave way first, if she couldn't figure something out, would determine how the tall male's body moved.

It would be the wrestling matches all over again, it seemed, but would she continue to fight with the weapons in her hand, or abandon them to fight with her fists as her opponent had? If she didn't do something quickly, the other orcling's greater size and strength would be a hard advantage to overcome...
[hr][@Kazemitsu][hr]
The runt's makeshift wooden polearm caught, as an axe or halberd was meant, on the edge of Grunthor's upraised shield. Thought once again he didn't take the brunt of the impact, his opponent was able to jerk down on the already numb arm, prying the shield away! With half his defenses gone, Grunthor still stepped forward under the haft and used his Rapid Strikes skill--this was what made the difference.

The Rapid Strikes was notably not as "rapid" with the large shield as it would've been with his bare arm or a lighter weapon. However, it was still much faster than the other runt expected the big wooden disc to be. The strike to the orcling's chest knocked them back a step. They had to pull their polearm back even further to prepare another strike--Grunthor hit them in the face this time. There was a crunch before their nose spilled blood like a faucet. The runt screamed in fury and agony, stumbling away as they blinked through teary eyes. Grunthor's next punch caught them on the ribs as they tried to get away, and knocked the runt to the ground.

"Finish 'em!" Auguz called, as the rest of the tribe hooped and hollered. Grunthor's opponent blubbered on the ground, having dropped his weapon, and was struggling to blow the blood out of his nose and breathe through his mouth at the same time...

If Grunthor had ever played DnD as a human, this was his "how do you want to do this" moment. Just about any blow would be enough to either knock the other runt out, or reduce them to a sobbing wreck in the fetal position. Both outcomes would see Auguz haul them away by the scruff of the neck, berating them for losing before throwing them back into the crowd--however, what Grunthor chose to do would likely color the perception the other Runts in the tribe had of him, as they leaned forward to watch with baited breath.

Upon being given his rat skull for passing the first day of training, Grunthor too would have the same pick of the "loot" that Esfir and Agar had been offered.