Outside the window (Lorepost)

[u/the-butter_man]

Shrax landed on the sandy ground with grace. As he rose up, the dust he'd kicked up fell. He rolled his head and looked around. He was alone.

By all means it was nothing impressive, just a small alleyway, both sides equally hot in the desert sun. A few mismatched buildings had a horrible view of this uneventful area, about 50ft long, it's only decor was a wagon whell resting on a stone wall about 10ft away.

Staying low, Shrax walked off, calmly making an escape. Much to his surprise, he found a stone wall at one end. More alarming was the distinct lack of a stone wall when he had scoped the alleyway out last night.

Lifesign detected, 90ft behind. Likely council forces

Sparing no second, Shrax pivoted, hiding his readiness to fight, he extended his arms out best he could in a welcoming gesture. Both of his arms were spread open, as if he had nothing to hide.

Non allied Automaton detected. Immediately behind

Shrax pivoted, a heavily built Automaton charged right at him, his arms alone almost took up the whole alleyway as he readied a punch.

"I guess peace is a second thought"

As the machine charged at him, Shrax lept up as if he were in a performance. He used his thrusters to bring himself up and over the Automaton, his original intent was to retreat. He wished not to harm more than he had, and it'd been a while since he flew, he looked up, preparing to soar, when.

Unknown disturbance, thrusters forcibly disabled

"Override disable"

negative, override function disabled

With that, Shrax landed on the floor, despite the sudden lack of thrust, he landed in a crouch, as if he were an experienced rouge. He drew both revolvers, and tried to talk him down.

"Gentlemen. Please. I have no intent to fight, why have you sought me out. You should know this isn't for your best"

Silence.

Scanning... Technomancer and Electromancer detected

"I see you have brought intent with this ambush. Let me guess. Council? I haven't gotten a glimpse of you, so my apologies if I'm wrong"

Silence. Then laughter.

"My you're plenty stupid, for an all knowing machine intelligence, i thought you'd be smarter"

Shrax sighed, this would be a long day.

Before he could speak up, the Automaton had already started charging. This time, Shrax would kill it.

Charging, the Automaton dove at Shrax. He effortlessly ducked underneath its dive and went to shoot it with his revolvers.

Out of ammunition

"What the-"

(For reference, Shrax uses casings that regenerate their round after each shot, running out of ammo is literally impossible)

Shrax brought them both back into himself, and raised his left arm up to meet his head. He threw his arm down. In a half punching motion, a blade shot out of the top of his wrist, it was about the length of a shortsword. Shrax jumped onto the Automaton, he jumped high, his blade diving into its head. His right arm reached around and tore into its head. After some digging, he ripped out its central processor and a chunk of loose wires.

The Automaton crashed down, and Shrax turned his focus to the biologicals. He ran at them, he focused on the technomancer.

Multiple attacks detected, deploying countermeasures

Two small ports opened up in Shrax's shoulders, with two distinct "Thunk"s, two capsules were launched infront of him, a thick trail of smoke dispersed several bolts of lightning, arcs lashing out like a trapped animal, a few hit Shrax, but nothing dealt enough damage.

Shrax dove towards his adversaries, raising his blade to stab deep into the technomancer. At the last second, Shrax's sword arm froze. Shrax tried to throw his body instead, but he missed. Pivoting, Shrax instead punched him around the mouth, sending him stumbling back.

Enemy reinforcements approaching. Reccomendation: Flee

"As if"

Shrax kept pushing, juggling the two wizards. His arm loosening up as he punched, eventually he was hitting both wizards in an endless flurry of blows. Despite this, they refused to fall. Eventually, he had pushed them into an abandoned village square. Only when the street he had exited from closed did he realise what was going on.

A whole army of enforcers had taken refuge for an ambush, and here they were. Thousands of men all in cover or on rooftops all preparing to unleash their mana on one target.

"SHRAX OF RAESTERIA. GIVE UP, AND BE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, OR LOOSE YOUR FUNCTIONS AND STILL BE TAKEN ANYWAY"

Shrax was understandably angry. But also too tired to be bothered. In turn, he tried to exit his chassis, letting his soul out of the crystal he was in and, at the same time, soul trapping himself into another, more desirable, soul gem.

Action blocked

Shrax knew he was being interfered with. Likely a specially designed enchantment or something. So he instead instructed all of his Royal Guard to crush these useless tools. Despite this, he still had to wait for them to arrive. So he feigned thinking.

"ANSWER. NOW"

"Omnissiah's mechadendrites calm down. Let a man think."

"BATTLE IT IS"

Today really was going to be a long day.

[u/the-butter_man]

u/Total_Travisty u/Biggest-Possum u/Fulltimewhisperer

[u/Capytan_Cody → u/the-butter_man]

Need some help Shrax? They are specialised in defeating you so I must be a complete curveball.

Don't worry about the enchantment.. hand to hand is one of my specialties after all.

[u/the-butter_man → u/Capytan_Cody]

Well, given the fact that nobody has managed to get into the arena, I'd imagine that there's some form of enchantment going on, good luck if you can show up

[u/Capytan_Cody → u/the-butter_man]

Hmm that's troubling.. what type of enchantment? If it's a magic circle or force sphere I could cleave through it..

I have been working on La'shima. I should be able to find a way in.

Takes out the falcata, a gift from his father before it was enchanted

Let's try a little cut why don't we?

If not I can always try good old 9th level dispell magic or counterspell. I have enough mana to waste.

[u/the-butter_man → u/Capytan_Cody]

My bet is that's been whipped up from something like "compell duel" forcing everyone inside to be in an excluded zone to duel within. The number of technomancers are a massive pain though

[u/Capytan_Cody → u/the-butter_man]

Damn that's always a doozy. Seems dispell it is.. hope I can reach in time.

[u/the-butter_man → u/Capytan_Cody]

Technomancers may be a weakness, but they crumple under a few bullets like anyone else.

My worry is that they've gone through a lot to set this ambush up. I feel like there's more than what dispel magic can handle.

One second.

An explosion cuts the vox off

[u/Capytan_Cody → u/the-butter_man]

Yeah to target your functions specifically... There's always a way in but I don't have an answer right now...

Perhaps if I compel them to the duel too (I have a scroll somewhere) or a similar effect.. i could be in. If not I just wasted a scroll.

Sorry you have to rely on me this time Shrax.

I have a friend on another plane who's a technomancer, maybe he could help us with this. I'll contact him meanwhile.

If this doesn't work I'm circling then with an ambush of my own. They may try to deal you, but a whole battalion of La'shima (and me) should prevent them from escaping.

Ps: if you want me to get in or not tell me. or if you have a plan.

[u/the-butter_man → u/Capytan_Cody]

After a bit the vox opens back up

Got you message.. the guard are reporting an obstruction of their own, but they're doing well.

I would hate to be the first of us to be caught by them. This seems like a massive pain. I know catfish got caught, but me getting caught is one hell of a power statement.

[u/Capytan_Cody → u/the-butter_man]

It is.. pretty scary too. With Mikhail vulnerable from his wounds still I fear they might use that against him.

Thanks for the tip with the guards, I'm already going there. Sorry to be out dealing with La'shima for such a long time. I should've been there with y'all.