Shredder VIII
Gerard thought about the hunter he sought and what was perhaps waiting for him on the trail ahead as the day continued to wear on. Little was known of the wicked mechanical constructs known as Shredders. Few who encountered them survived to convey any details about the habits and tendencies of the mechanical monstrosities. Clearly they possessed a sentience that was impressive, locked into a permanent predatory mode that continually improved with each successful hunt. By all accounts, they had appeared relatively impervious to damage inflicted by standard weaponry, although there was some indication that heavier, siege weaponry could exceed the integral strength of the creature’s frame. A magical aura had been detected around the Shredder’s metal casing, but this was not uncommon when dealing with constructs fashioned by Artificers. The number and type of appendages varied greatly from machine to machine, which added to the difficulty in classification. Some researches believed that the term Shredder was merely a catch all title for any construct that couldn’t be placed in a more refined category. Function seemed largely based on what appendages the particular Shredder manifested, but inevitably the lethality of many of the creature’s limbs was unquestionable. If nothing else, the metal beasts could kill nearly without equal. The particular Shredder that had crossed Gerard’s path was no exception. Several menacing looking blades and almost an equal number of rotating saw blades had protruded from the beast at wide and varied positions. The sheer bulk and chaotic appearance of the Shredders would lend an adventurer to believe that they were a rough and blundering bunch, but the opposite was in fact true. Few creatures encountered in the wild could be said to be stealthier or more elusive than the Shredders. Their ability to camouflage within their surroundings bordered on mystical, and the act of surprising their prey was what yielded them such a high success rate in murder and mayhem.
But where did they come from? This particular type of forged creature did not exist during the time of the war, although that point is highly debated among the academic circles. There was certainly no similarity to those machines made during wartime construction. Sleek and well proportioned, smooth and well crafted, the war forged were unlike anything that has been seen since the end of legal construction. The existence of the Shredders though would seem to indicate that some unknown faction is utilizing outlawed technology to create these slaughter machines, but to what end, no one knew. The whirling monstrosities had only been sighted around the wastelands, with a great percentage of the sightings occurring along the southern border of the shadow lands. A fair number of eye witness accounts had actually stemmed from those who had been unfortunate enough to stumble into the interior of the dark region, passing beyond the disorienting wall of fog that serves as a barrier and a warning.
What the hell then was this particular beastie doing well outside its usual realm and arena, wreaking untold havoc in sectors that have until now been untouched by such random acts of violence? That is what Gerard must find out. If the Shredders had begun to expand their movements to include regions outside of the wasted zones, then those who lived near such dangerous tracts must be warned before they found themselves at the mercy of these heartless creatures. The Rangers would have to move swiftly if the matter did carry an ill foreboding. Lives had already been sacrificed to learn of the untoward acts of the abominations. How many souls had departed the realm without account or acknowledgment? Gerard contemplated the killing capacity of the Shredders, and his spirit darkened at the vile notion.