Zeroth

Why Were We Reincarnated as Orcs?!

@Zeroth is Shamar the scout, in the orc camp somewhere?

@ReusableSword

She is indeed! Feel free to use the following if needed for your post:

Shamar, the Head Hunter of the tribe, could be seen near a large, yurt-like dwelling on the far western side of the camp, in an area of flat, unshaded rock. Away from the hustle and bustle of most other orcs, it was unclear whether she settled here out of personal taste... or because the fumes from her animal pelts, stretched and tanning in the sun, were so strong. Even to an orc's nose, they were unpleasantly pungent. The finished product of her pelts could be seen in her home's construction, stitched together in a multitude of colors with fur still attached.

Five squares of hide, each differing in size, were stretched over racks in front of a partially covered, smoking fire and looked just about finished. One more piece was currently soaking in a large, fire-carved bowl made from a section of tree stump---the mixture stank of brine and animal viscera, and had thick, skimmy bits of oily fat floating on its surface. Two more hides, these quite fresh, were draped over a sawhorse made of logs and Shamar herself stood over them with a sharp stone, continually scraping muscle and fat from her trophies.

Near the entrance of her yurt was another wooden rack, this one taller off the ground, with several stone or clay basins beneath it. Here hung four fresh kills, likely collected from the female orc's traps earlier in the morning, even before the runts were allowed on their own hunts. Two jackalopes, an Elwet, and some strange, dog-sized creature that looked like a mix of a baby panda and raccoon, with a rotund body. The flesh of its belly drooped as it hung upside down, its blood draining into the basin, and the fatty flab was long enough it looked as if the creature had been wearing an apron.

Children of the Otherwold (An isekai rp with a twist!)

Potentially interested! Personally I don't mind the idea of "rolling the dice" to see what my character becomes since turning lemons into busted OP exploits is a challenge I'd love to attempt, but I have a few questions! And maybe a suggestion?

The whole point of the reincarnation aspect is your character’s respective god will grant you a new life based on your last wishes, desires, and regrets. These together will combine into who or what you’ll eventually be turned into.

@TheNoCoKid

If Players were reincarnated as creatures traditionally considered "monsters," (slime, goblin, etc) would they be capable of leveling up and "evolving" over time into stronger or more specialized variations? Like, Goblin > Hobgoblin > ???-X-number of times > Goblin King or something of that nature?

If Players were reincarnated as "non-monsters," the usual Human/Elf/Dwarf fare, would they simply learn abilities or grow into new powers as time goes on, free-form? Or would they be sorted into some kind of Class or Job system?

Do you have any particular rules/features of an EXP system, some examples of the types of skills/spells characters might use, or other "generally known" meta-info within Vecta itself that you think would help prospective players get a feel for the RP? Like, do the natural denizens of the world also have levels, or know how their own status screens and such work?

As for the suggestion, sort of tying it into the first question about non-standard racial choices: Maybe it would help people who want more "choice" in what they reincarnate into if they had a general idea of creatures' traits in your world? You could list something like, maybe the five most common "families" of monsters (for example, "Beastkin," "Undead," "Goblinoids," etc) and some short snippets about how they behave or their cultures? That way, maybe a Player has a little bit more to work with even if they don't know exactly what creature in that category they'll end up becoming?

Why Were We Reincarnated as Orcs?!

@ERode It was right after you had to withdraw before, so Esfir will level up with the same achievements that the others did! You can choose one from the following options:

• Increase SP
• Increase HP
• Increase MP
• Gain 1 Skill Point

We could just say that she's been carefully deliberating which choice to make up to this point. Do you need the full "system message" quote?

Why Were We Reincarnated as Orcs?!

North Caves

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@Unkown58@Lucius Cypher@King Cosmos@Kazemitsu@Crusader Lord

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The narrow passage had been somewhat widened by the explosion, but it still required the runtlings to travel single file if they wanted to go any further into it. At least now they didn't have to squeeze sideways, though. And since Lazash and Vola were standing in it, they could now see that it widened again after only a few feet, into a chamber that had a lower ceiling. That chamber slowly began to slope upwards and turn on itself, like a spiral ramp deeper into the mountain.

As Lazash gathered up the remains of the Flak Beetle, it seemed that some of its parts might be in a harvestable state...but under the gunk and soot, it was hard to tell whether legs, pincers, or whatever else might be there. She would need to clean and process the chunks with a knife or sharp stone of some kind, to pry apart the remaining bits from the bug's actual muscle tissue. Speaking of which, it had a grayish white color with a phlegmy texture, much like raw shrimp or crab, so it would probably need to be cooked unless she wanted to risk something like what Grunthor had gotten from eating the raw or unsanitary bits of his Elwet earlier.

Meanwhile, Vola began to investigate the shiny chunks of ore that had been blasted out of the wall. It felt relatively hard, but brittle, and almost looked like gold except for that same hardness. Its natural color seemed to be the shiny, brassy yellow, but here and there it had tarnished to produce an effect that seemed to shine or change colors when one tilted it back and forth in the light. When Lazash joined her, the two Runts were able to gather 10 pieces of it between them. It looked like there was still some of the ore left in the wall as well, but unless they wanted to blow up something else, they would need some tool better than what they already had in order to chip away at it...

Esfir and Akeno both called after the two of them to investigate, but as the party of orcs hung near the entrance of the cave, a sound drifted to them from within the tunnel depths. However, this sound didn't seem like it came out of the ground. Rather, it felt like it was reverberating through the roof above them---from somewhere inside the caves, and yet, further UP the mountainside.

It was a roar.

Lazash and Vola obtained:
Raw Chalcopyrite Ore x5, Each (10 total)

SYSTEM

Meanwhile, Grunthor chased after the fleeing slime. Though it was rolling and bouncing down hill, the Runt had longer legs and an insatiable lust for slime blood. As he caught up to it, Grunthor swung with all his might just as the slime was bouncing up. It ran right into his club with a KA-CRACK and broke another bone spike out of it---but the rocky shell on top of its body broke again as well, and the rest of the club smashed into its jelly body. With a high pitched warble, the slime made one last attempt to get away...then it died.

Victory!
Loot Obtained:
Lightly Damaged Singed Stone Slime x1
Stone Slime Flake x2

SYSTEM:Grunthor

But then, as Grunthor caught his breath after exerting himself so much in that final sprint...a painful gurgle issued from his stomach. However, almost thankfully, this was a familiar sensation he'd had at least once as a human as well. It looked like he wouldn't be finding out what a "magical discharge" entailed just yet. All he needed was to find a bush to pop a squat in.

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The Forest

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@Rune_Alchemist@Timemaster

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When Svarok seemed to go along with the goblin's ploy, the big eared creature looked surprised at first, and then nervously joined her in laugher. But as she bent down to retrieve the other goblin's spear, the one with the hatchet's expression changed---

Then Carmina started talking, causing the little monster to look at her. Nervously, it started to smile, and took a few steps back while trying to stay at an angle where neither Svarok or Carmina had a good view of the hatchet it held behind its back. But it didn't attack either of them, and was actually starting to look rather chuffed as Carmina really heaped on the praise. There was a rustling in the bushes, in the same direction the speargoblin had come from...

Followed by a "gack!" sound as Svarok shoved her newly acquired spear into the back of the downed goblin who had dropped it. The creature gurgled and died quickly, slumping to the ground.

The rustles in the bushes stopped, made a slight "eep!" noise, and then started rustling in the OPPOSITE direction as fast as they could go. The hatchet goblin yelped and started backing away faster.

"Uh, was just playin' jokes! Like me said! Not, um, not spyin' on orky camp!" The hatchet came out from behind his back though, and was held defensively in both hands. "DEFINITELY not huntin' orclings when they go out into woods! And, and um, me never seen dat gob afore!" It pointed at one which now had a spear jutting out of its spine. "He not with me! Must be with, uh, some udda tribe, like da buncha gobs in da south mountains!"

If the two Runts let him, this goblin looked ready to flee for real this time. But since it seemed like his backup had abandoned him, the advantage---and thus, the choice---was distinctly theirs for the moment...

Victory!
Loot Obtained:
Lightly Tainted Goblin x1
Stone Spear (Poisoned) x1
Dirty Loincloth x1
Furry Pouch x1 (Contains ??? Poison Gunk)

SYSTEM:Svarok

If Svarok looked closely at her new weapon, she'd be able to see that the black tip on the rock was some kind of tar-like salve that smelled a lot like the Rotleaf Seedpods she'd acquired, only worse. But it had been made from a tree branch apparently sturdier than her own Wooden Stick, and had a Sharp Rock much like the one she carried wedged into its tip for the blade. For a goblin, it needed to be used in both hands, but given her larger size and greater strength she could also ostensibly use it with just one arm or even throw it if need be. A decent upgrade to her current arsenal.

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Forest >>> Orc Camp

@ReusableSword

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Agar's trip back to the Orc Camp was mostly uneventful, as he was passing through territory that he'd already explored and there were signs of other Runts, like that big group he'd met before, running around as well. By this point many prey-level monsters had probably wizened up and decided to give the camp's surroundings a wide berth. But upon reaching the camp's entrance, he was suddenly stopped by the broad palms of the two guards.

"Runts can't come back til they finish the---" one of them started to say, as if following a script, but then he stopped and looked at Agar with fresh, surprised eyes. "Damn, you got two? And a Harpy? I'll be a grukh-pile! Get in there, Runt! Go to Auguz!" The bigger creature slapped Agar on the back and ushered him through the camp thoroughfare.

When Agar re-entered the camp proper, it wasn't hard to find the Head Warrior. He stood on a small platform right in the middle of the thoroughfare, made from a couple of barrels that propped up a few planks of wood. The hastily put together dais seemed to be solely for the purpose of making him stand out, as none of the other orcs seemed to be paying him much mind and he wasn't waving his arms or shouting or anything.

"Finally! I wuz startin' to think all but two of ya died out there!" said the Head Warrior as he hopped down. He took Agar's kills from him without asking or even making any gesture for them to be handed over. Then he lifted them close to his face and examined them with a long, drawn out hum. He looked at the Tatzelwurm, first with both eyes, then just his right as the left high squinted closed. Then he sniffed it, up and down the Tatzelwurm's length. Then he opened its mouth and peered inside. Then he turned the creature upside down and licked it somewhere that didn't seem sanitary.

Following this, he held the Harpy up by its feet, and looked honestly surprised. Then he noted the bite marks on its neck, and glanced at Agar with narrowed eyes. But after a moment, he shrugged, and turned the body this way and that. He tossed the Tatzelwurm back to Agar, then shoved his entire fist down the harpy's throat as if searching for something. After an unsettling moment of watching the bird-creature's stomach bulge, the Head Warrior removed his hand and wiped it on his chest. Then he used that same hand to grab Agar's arm and hold it up in the air.

"ALL O' YOUSE, LISTEN UP! THIS HERE RUNT--" he turned his head and whispered "What's yer name?" and then upon receiving answer he turned back to the camp--"THIS HERE RUNT, AGAR, HAS RETURNED FROM THE HUNT!" He then set the smaller orc down, and turned in a slow circle so that the entire camp could see the bodies of Agar's prey. "HE HAS HUNTED TWO CREATURES! TODAY, HE LEAVES DA BROOD PIT!" Several of the adult orcs cheered or pumped their fists, and many more gave the youngster an approving half-smile or a nod of respect. A few even looked contemplative, as if they were quite impressed. Auguz returned Agar's kills to him.

"Now, for the rest o' the day ya can do whatever the hell ya feel like...but tomorrer mornin', you be at the Trainin' Circle before first light! And after that, we'll figure out some more duties for ya!" Auguz crossed his arms as he nodded. "But no more babyin'! Don't be goin' back to the Brood Pit---from now on, you find yer own food, yer own shelter, and whatever else! If somebody will trade ya for it, or ya take it in a fight, then more power to ya! Just be willin' to work if somebody's willin' t' give ya somethin' for it!" With that, the Head Warrior hopped back up on the dais.

SP Increased! Stamina Points are expended when you exert physical effort beyond basal metabolic requirements, beyond the range of standard resting heart rate, and to fuel certain Skills. When Stamina Points are spent, you will suffer from the Exhausted condition.

QUEST COMPLETED!
Quest: Find Something to Eat and Bring it Back Whole

• Kill a Creature x2
• Keep the Target in High Quality Condition
• Return to Camp Uninjured

A New Quest is Available:

Quest Giver: Head Warrior Auguz
Quest Details: Fulfill Duties within the Tribe (0/2 Minimum)

• Be at the Training Circle before sunrise tomorrow morning
• Find your own food (2/3 meals provided for)
• Find your own shelter
• Accept an optional Quest from another Tribe Member

SYSTEM

Why Were We Reincarnated as Orcs?!

I will get a post up either late this evening or tomorrow! Anyone who's still working on one feel free to keep going!

Why Were We Reincarnated as Orcs?!

@ERode My original plan was for GM updates to be once per week, but that also depends on other players' posts. My schedule will allow for a quicker pace now though if people would like, cause I've honestly been a little worried about it being too slow.

Why Were We Reincarnated as Orcs?!

@ERodeSure! Esfir's group is now at the caves---Lazash and Vola went in to scout, Grunthor and Akeno attacked a rocky slime, and then something blew up! Perfect time for Esfir to return from her short break!

Why Were We Reincarnated as Orcs?!

whats the condition of the dead thing the harpy was eating? like are its eyes kind of milky (if there at all)? or is it or parts of it look edible?

@ReusableSword

It's clearly carrion at this point, fur falling out, skin/viscera dried on the exposed bones, got that sour roadkill smell, etc.

Why Were We Reincarnated as Orcs?!

Late update (for me anyway)! @Crusader Lord and @Unkown58, good job surviving--the last time someone threw fire at a Flak Beetle, it didn't go nearly this well.

@ReusableSword Not trying to force Agar to group up or anything, just mentioning the environmental effects since the Runts are certainly raising a ruckus in the area.

@Timemaster Just so you'll know OOC, Carmina's "Encourage" affect DID work...but "Encourage-ing" something through a spell, doesn't exactly mean the same as convincing them to follow her words. She essentially buffed the two monsters that were already about to fight one another, lol.

Why Were We Reincarnated as Orcs?!

The Forest

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@Rune_Alchemist@Timemaster

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Svarok managed to nimbly evade the low strike from the hatchet-wielding goblin, and launched another Holy Bolt at the spear-gob. The glowing sphere struck it like a fastball to the face, smashing into its cheek and seeming to “spin” in place for a moment as its jaw was slightly distended. The creature went down spluttering through bloodied lips—it wasn’t dead, but dazed as if by a heavy punch to just the right spot on the chin. In the process it clumsily dropped its weapon!

The hatchet goblin looked much more nervous now, but still flourished its crude instrument. Then Carmina’s voice rang out, and the creature yelped as it turned to look at her. But as the notes of her song rolled over the three creatures, both goblins suddenly seemed to wobble slightly on their feet. Svarok, too, felt an oddly calming sensation spill over her, like a warm hand rubbing her shoulder.

Warning: Your MP is Low.

You have been Soothed. You are already non-hostile to the caster; no negative Mental Status Effects to disperse.

SYSTEM:Svarok

The goblins’ movements slowed, and while the one Svarok had hit twice now slowly began to gather itself up off the ground, the one with the hatchet looked between Carmina and Svarok as if it saw them with new eyes. That anger it had before wasn’t gone, but it almost seemed like it had taken ten breaths to calm down in a split second.

“Ah, um—haha! Hee hee, silly orclings, you fall for classic goblin joke!” It gave them a lopsided smile and put its hatchet behind its back. “We’s only pretends! Not really gonna kill yas or, um, eat yas!” Its eyes darted back and forth, towards the goblin still picking itself up and then towards the bushes that goblin had come from. Then back to the runts. Then back to those bushes. “Uh, um…so…how’s uh, how is orclingses’ day going?”

In a moment, that other goblin would have its wits back enough to grab its spear. Moving to take the spear themselves would put an Orc Runt at the mercy of the hatchet wielding goblin…but maybe they were fast enough to avoid him if they knew a surprise attack was coming? Maybe he really didn’t intend to attack again, now that it was a more even fight? Or maybe they’d just get him out of the way first…

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@ReusableSword

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From the bushes, where he’d watched all this time with the patience of a true hunter, Agar lunged! Both arms, scrawny as they might be, held his stick firmly and brought it down on the Harpy full-force! The creature was none the wiser until the last instant, and with a meaty crunch the piece of wood slammed down on its already injured shoulder! The stick let out a loud crack as it splintered—but so did the bone under the bird-like monster’s mottled gray skin. It screeched and tried to leap away. Its wing, however, sagged in the joint socket, and it stumbled and fell before it could attempt to fly. The fall only aggravated its injury, prompting another screech of agony as it thrashed and flopped on the ground—

Perhaps this sudden pain and panic sped up the flow of poison through its veins. The purple bruise, under the Tatzelwurm’s teeth marks, grew darker. The creeping, ivy-like color reached the monster’s throat and upper chest. It suddenly spasmed, spat up thickened, dark blood…

And then it died.

Victory! Loot Obtained:
Mangled Tainted Harpy x1
Eviscerated Tatzelwurm x1

Quest: Find Something to Eat and Bring it Back Whole

• Kill a Creature

Ingested New Creature: Slime
Learned Skill: Blunt Damage Resistance
Explored Areas: Orc Camp, Forest
New Creatures Observed: Tatzelwurm, Harpy
New Creature Killed: Harpy

LEVEL UP!
Choose ONE:

• Increase HP (Health)
• Increase MP (Magic)
• Increase SP (Stamina)
• Gain 1 Skill Rank Point

SYSTEM:Agar

With everything besides Agar in the small clearing now dead, and that one life sign he’d seen with Field Scan long gone, the sudden silence of the forest was almost eerie. No birds chirped and no bushes rustled…

If he strained his ears he might hear something that sounded like singing—or screaming—coming from somewhere fairly far away, but probably still within the forest. Or, he might hear something like…a firework, going off in the distance up to the north, back towards the mountains.

Now he had to decide what to do with the two corpses in front of him, and whether he would continue hunting, investigate some other point of interest in the area, or simply return to the camp with his spoils. He’d been pretty lucky so far…would he continue to push it?

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North Caves

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@Unkown58@Lucius Cypher@King Cosmos@Kazemitsu@Crusader Lord

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When Vola saw the Flak Beetle shoot another flaming projectile, her first instinct was to throw something back—namely, a Short Wooden Spear—using her makeshift launcher. Lazash, on the other hand, immediately dove for cover even as her companion shouted the same. The beetle’s blast struck the ground between them, and released an explosion that would throw Vola off her feet and catch the edges of her ragged clothing with smoldering sparks. She scrambled for cover herself, but if she didn’t do something quick her former swaddling rags would soon ignite and take the rest of her with them!

But as luck would have it, her spear actually hit the beast! The Flak Beetle let out a shrill screech as the hard carapace over one of its wings cracked open under the wooden javelin. Normally, such a weapon wouldn’t have a hard enough tip or enough force behind it (not from an Orc Runt, anyway) to penetrate the chitinous layers—but Gren’s clever spear launcher multiplied Vola’s strength more than twice, and the weapon struck true! It drove right through the shell and into a crag between the rocky wall, pinning the beetle in place!

Its mandibles clacked angrily, and its thorax swelled as that glow intensified again! But Lazash had prepared to throw another Fire Bolt if she saw it attack again, and this definitely seemed like it planned on further hostilities! So she let fly!

Warning: Your MP is low.

SYSTEM:Lazash

The Flak Beetle inhaled, and its mouth parts began to glow. Lazash’s Fire Bolt flew through the air. Vola’s spear continued to hold between the stones.

The Runts had both taken cover, previously. Thus, between them was open space. The Flak Beetle had also backed up earlier. Thus, the “path of least resistance” was contained by the narrow opening in the back of the cave, directing it forward in a less widespread path.

This was all very good. Because when Lazash’s Fire Bolt hit it in the face and the flames went in, instead of out, the Flak Beetle exploded.

Both Vola and Lazash, from their cover across from each other, watched a shockwave of flame, dust, and rock powerful enough to indirectly rattle their bones thunder past them in an instant. The heat felt like opening an out-of-control oven and nearly losing their eyebrows. Their vision was seared white for a few painful seconds as the flames passed. Their ears rang painfully and then all sounds seemed as if they came from underwater.

Up ahead, Gren happened to be lucky that he was standing to one side of the cave’s entrance. Most of the flames had died down, but a powerful, roaring aftershock of dust, debris, and heat spewed into the open air. Grunthor and Akeno had moved away to deal with the slime as well, otherwise at least one of them would’ve definitely been caught in it. Nonetheless, the blast certainly caught their attention—as well as sending most other critters in the local area running for cover, including the rock-crab and the dire rat up above. They almost fell off their ledge, before scrambling back up and skedaddling in opposite directions.

The explosion lasted a mere fraction of a second, and in its wake as their hearing slowly recovered, Lazash and Vola would notice the sound of rocks crumbling and crashing to the ground…but it wasn’t a cave in. At least, not the kind you saw in the movies that threatened to kill everyone and seal off the whole tunnel. Only the most fragile bits of rock had shattered or fallen down. It made a bit of a mess and spilled slippery gravel and sharp shards all over the ground, but if anything it had actually widened out the narrow tunnel a bit…Because a big chunk of that shiny, green-streaked substance in the side of one wall had been blasted into much smaller fragments that clackity-clacked all over the cave floor…



And then, of course, there were a few…bits and pieces…of the Flak Beetle left. The rest of the shriveled, burnt mushrooms had been apparently vaporized.

Victory! Loot Obtained:
Flak Beetle Chunks x4 - Harvest Potential reduced by 70%

SYSTEM:Lazash_Vola

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Meanwhile, Akeno’s Fire Bolt hit the earthen slime at an angle, blasting the little monster a few feet across the ground! It let out a gurgling yelp as it tumbled, and its rubbery membrane smoked from the impact. As it shook its head—or rather, its whole body—and blinked its eyespots, it screeched again as Grunthor had already stormed up to it! With both hands the male Runt brought his Spiked Club down right on top of the slime’s own spiky, stony carapace. Both one of the bone spikes, and one of the stones, chipped as the impact wobbled the slime’s whole form. It rolled backwards, and shook itself yet again.

But before Akeno or Grunthor could follow up, a sudden BOOM behind them would shock both of them. Even the slime was lifted off the ground by the sudden explosion. Considering that it was outnumbered, taking considerable damage, and now the earth itself seemed to be making too much noise, the stony jelloball decided now was the time to get the hell out of Dodge. With a squeak, it turned away from the two orclings and began rolling towards the nearby shallow stream, bouncing along the way as if it were getting ready to try and jump the waters.

Would the two runts pursue their quarry, or run back to make sure their friends hadn’t just been splattered all over the rocks?