"I challenge you to a duel of champions for leadership over your clans! 1000 of your finest warriors against me!"
6
Your challenge rings out across the crowd. It seems to throw them into a bit of confusion. A large orc strides forward to meet you.
“What do we get when we kill you?”
You pull your sword and slam it into the ground. Tremors could be felt across the battlefield. The orc confers with his fellows and they run back into the crowd. The orc pulls his weapon.
“Your challenge is accepted,” and lunges at you. He moves with the easy grace of a confident killer, the experience of a hundred battles and duels. He was more tiger than bull, killing intent in every movement.
You clap your hands together with his head between them and squash it like a grape.
This caused a cry of dismay among the horde. They had expected you to kill the orc, but not without a fight. Orcs came at you one at a time or in pairs. After a while you figured they were delaying, but then you think you figured out why.
Out of the fortress strode orcs twice the size you have seen before, and at the head of them an orc half again as big. The orcs opened a path for them and they cheered as the huge orcs marched to you. You drew your sword from the ground.
They began, two spinning axes thrown, arriving in the blink of an eye. You dodge one and catch the other, sending it spinning back, tearing through the arm of one and slamming into the chest of a second. The leading orc charged, ducked underneath your first swing and his sword dug into your side. You roar and your counterattack cuts him in half. It is a viscious, bloody struggle as they would land blows, but your regeneration and your strength kept you going. Your attacks in turn often killed in one hit, unless you only cut off a limb in which case they kept fighting. Pierce, cut, smash. You battle through their best, until at the end when you tear a dagger out your shoulder, throw it through the last one and, since the dagger just tore straight through, pummel his face and body until it is just a mashy mess.
Finally, what must surely be their king stands before you. You are bloody and torn, but your determination and anger is not quenched. The orcs have for thousands of years preyed upon and terrified men. That would end. You raise your sword, eyes hard.
The largest orc yet considers you for a moment.
“Why do you fight, human? What drives you so?”
What do you say?A. Vengeance.
B. Hope.
C. Because I am strong.
D. Something else?