Oscriss Creature 20

The menacing war machines known as the oscriss are found only in the ancient sites associated with the First Ones. Resembling two stacked pyramids with a white energy core of unknown composition, oscriss infuriate foes by routinely teleporting across the battlefield. Found wandering alone throughout Aballonfs First One cities, the war machines were later identified in locations outside the Pact Worlds, lending credence to theories of the First Onesf expansion efforts throughout the cosmos.

The oscriss defy proper engagement, staying far away from their foes and unleashing coruscating beams of energy that slice off the limbs of those unlucky enough to engage with them. They meticulously render their foes apart at extreme range using pinpoint accuracy. If pressured into a close-range engagement, they can unleash a blast of chronal energy to slow their attackers and allow themselves the time to better reposition and continue their dismembering bombardment.

Like other constructs of the First Ones, these guardians refuse to communicate and defy almost all attempts to override or hack their programming. Some of the galaxyfs finest minds have managed to temporarily overcome the intricate programming within the oscriss, though such intrusions are quickly detected and repelled, indicating that an evolving intelligence dwells within each of the strange machines.

When engaged at multiple vectors, it becomes easy to overwhelm an oscrissfs detection grid and reactions. Anacite scholars propose that the constructs were fashioned to battle foes who engaged strictly in two-dimensional warfare, and while the oscriss themselves are exceptionally capable of acting in three dimensions, they battle as though their foes could engage them only in two.

Itfs speculated that the unique tactics and weapons employed by the oscriss are intended to deal with one specific threat: the planashars of the Planashar Dominion. The planashars hail from a different reality known as the Infinite Loop that has only two dimensions. Theyfve recently slowly begun invading the galaxy, taking on the title of Those Who Converge and attacking Aballonian First Ones cities and the solar settlement of Noma. That the oscriss are intended to battle them only provides more evidence of some connection between the planashars and the First Ones.

Because the oscriss are accustomed to fighting beings that exist only in two.dimensional space, theyfre vulnerable to tactics involving three dimensions. attacking from multiple angles, for example. While an oscriss doesnft entirely understand such tactics, they can sense when theyfre being outmaneuvered with three-dimensional thinking and use their potent teleportation abilities to move into a less vulnerable position at every opportunity.