Master Of None

"Can I get a run down on the orcs and what they look like? I actually never saw them living in the farms since the patrols would deal with any that strayed too close to the city." Gil had never seen them and not even bothered to learn about them for this reason It was a gap in his knowledge he didn't want to have when he might encounter them. 

Walker took the lead recalling all of the passages he had read in the monster guide. "The orcs are monsters that tend to travel in small groups. They stand double the height of a human but still not taller than an ogre. Their heads are the same as a stretched out pigs and they have the same thick skin. That makes their defenses high along with the health points. But they are slow and easy to anger so they don't strategize." Walker paused for a moment while Gil absorbed the information. 

"They are strong so it is better to dodge them and will eat anything alive. Literally anything. They even eat each other when in need. They have a habit of picking up heavy branches or even large rocks to use as clubs if they can but prefer to just crush things in their hands." This made Remey and Su flinch a little. Su was glad she increased agility so that she would not easily be grabbed by such a monster. 

"I am sure that I won't need to face them head on…" Remey was already making strategies to circle them and hit them in the back if they encountered them. The real test would be when they actually faced one, or a few. 

"Midnight should have the advantage since they won't be able to catch on to her using her shadow wrapping skills." Walker had this realization. He was already thinking that she would also be the best one of them to cut down some of the orcs defense when they bumped in to them. 

"It is sounding more unavoidable. But if it is the fastest way for us to get to the dwarven kingdom I guess there is no choice." Gil sighed while fully accepting all the information and the possibilities that came with it. "I will mainly need to use the earth elemental and the wind arrows to damage them then." 

"I was going to ask if you planned to do that. I feel like the fire arrows will just anger them, which will be fine if they are in a group. The water elemental arrows might cause them to become even slower but that might not be what we need since they are already slow monsters to start with." Walker joined Gil in his planning. They both preferred the ranged combat. 

"Does that mean your frost whip will be more or less useless? What about your melee combat weapons?" Su was trying to gauge whether Walker would be risking the attempt to even go near the orcs if they encountered them. 

"I am not sure. I know using regular arrows is useless. Most of my weapons aren't super strong. I think the hammer would be a good option if I can manage to get close but it is too risky. The twin blitz swords might be my best chance at doing any real damage to them. However, magic will be the safest option." 

This was bringing many ideas to him. He wanted to focus on a magic that could completely stop the orcs in their tracks and safely give the party the time and opportunity to strike continuously. "I could try and use earth magic more. I know it is a little slower to cause any sort of effect. But if I manage to make some sort of trap hole or fissure in the ground we could have an easy time of trapping them and attacking their heads." 

"That actually sounds like the best strategy. Are you going to try and learn a skill like that while we walk?" Remey was curious if Walker would be able to do this. If he did she would be able to attack up close and personal without the worry of getting grabbed and crushed at all. 

"I can give it a try. But you all know how I get way too focused and lose the world a little." Walker was watching the rest of the party who had already started to set themselves up around him. 

"We've got you. Just focus as much as you can and if you slow down we will let Midnight give you a push." Gil took the spot right behind him with an arrow at the ready for any monster that dared to come anywhere near them while Walker was vulnerable. 

"Then, I guess I should give it a shot." Walker was worried that this might not be possible since he would end up being focused on walking instead of the earth elemental mana. 

"Just stay walking and if anything happens we will snap you out of it. Trust me." Su was grasping both of her shields at the ready to guard against anything that could come their way as they neared the exit to the forest. This put Walker in a much more relaxed state. Even more so after he looked at the rest of his party members who were fully focused on the surroundings. 

His words on the dangers that came from the orcs they would most likely face in the area were not ignored. The party wanted him to have this skill they would need to properly deal with future threats and display their strength properly. "Alright. Let's try this out!" 

Walker hyped himself up with a slight stretch to his arms as he walked. With his head bowed and his eyes closed he continued to walk forward while grasping at the earth elemental mana below his feet. 

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