Butcher Battle #19: Michael vs Langtry

[Snark Knight]

Michael attacks Langtry either to save Molly from execution or in vengeance after an execution, which was called for by a majority vote from the council:  Michael fails; the sword breaks, and Langtry incapacitates him without killing him.  Quickly and efficiently.  He didn’t become the Merlin by collecting frequent flier miles, after all.

Using the sword irresponsibly doesn't automatically break it. Rather, it just becomes vulnerable to being broken. So if Michael tried to use it for personal reasons, Langtry could just lock him down in a cocoon of hardened air until he dropped it (that binding Harry and Elaine figured out may have sucked against other wizards who can attack the 'knot', but it's more than adequate against anyone non-magical).

[dspringer1]

The right answer depends
1) If defeating Langtry is his mission, then the sword will grant Michael enough power that victory is a reasonable, but not certain, possibility.

2) if Michael is just using the sword for his own ends, the sword will provide no benefit and obviously Langtry will win assuming that Michael does not achieve total surprise at point blank range.  (who would expect a knight of the cross to attack to take down Langtry with a surprise sucker punch...)

3) If Langtry is dark/evil (not the case), but fighting Langtry is not Michael's mission - then most likely Langtry would win as he is freaking scary and the Michael would not get the extra "balancing" power a true mission grants. 

[jonas]

If Langtry is dark/evil (not the case),

Now that's subjective to a whole other argument right there. To give but a taste of mine, it's telling to refer to someone's expression as 'shark like' when a traitor is revealed in the council. Sharks react to blood in the water, even going after one of their own wounded. Right there Langtry see's Peabody exposed and vulnerable, but not as leader of the WC should. (LTW reaction is closer to correct)

[Quantus]

Langtry can beat Michael.  Langtry cannot beat a Knight defending the Innocent or otherwise on Sanctioned Business.  Note that it works beyond just negating supernatural abilities of the enemy, it can also potentially protect them against a host of environmental effects (if the cause is Just) like how he could have walked right up to the Gate of Fire if there was an innocent to protect, but could not if said person was there by choice. 


I should probably note that I give, say Luccio far better odds against Michael than Langtry, on the baseless assumption that he's not a Fighter, and so would be relatively non-threatening if denied his Magic.