First Instruction

[coolblueiceman]

[1 - Video]

I'll be giving a brief overview of how Midchildan magic and Devices work on the deck in 15 minutes. Anyone interested in learning how to use a Device, come on up - I'll have a stack of basic Devices you can try out.

[2 - Action]

[Sure enough, in 15 minutes Chrono can be found on the deck of the White Chalice with a stack of basic Devices, which will happily change into a staff form for anyone that wants to try, Fate having already shown up to help; he'll wait a bit for people to show before launching into a basic explanation.]

Some basics before we start: Midchildan magic is powered by the user's Linker Core. Everyone has a Linker Core, but some people have stronger Linker Cores than others, and like a muscle, it grows stronger with use and practice. Devices are designed to help channel the output from a mage's Linker Core, and give form to spells. As for how to use it... [He draws a training Device.] Set Up! [The staff extends to be about as tall as Chrono, with an obvious fancy end that probably does something special.] Now I can cast spells through this. A lot of Midchildan magic is trusting your instincts; you might be able to cast a spell or two just by feeling. I can help beyond that.

[Anyone willing to try their hand at magic?]]
[[OOC: Threadjacking encouraged. No, we're not trying to steal Tsukasa's thunder, I promise~]]

Comments

[getter-class.livejournal.com]

[Hayato isn't going to pick up a device. Instead, he simply stands in the back and watches the proceedings.]

I hope you don't mind an observer.

[zetahatsudo.livejournal.com]

[Oh hey, it's that guy who essentially told him to suck it up when he first came on board.]

Commander Jin. It's been some time.

-2-

[bakaribbon.livejournal.com]

[It's a bit odd getting taught in this sort of thing by a kid younger than you, but Haruka can deal.]

Huh...So, do I just pick one of these up...?

[coolblueiceman]

Yes. Pick one up and order it to 'Set Up'. It should start working then.

2

[rightcyclone.livejournal.com]

[Philip isn't trying it yet, but he's obviously quite fascinated. And may or may not be fingering his Cyclone Memory]

Re: 2

[coolblueiceman]

Ah, you're one of the Kamen Riders, right? I was wondering when I'd see one. [Chrono picks up one of the dormand Devices.] Give it a try. It works for almost everyone, if only nominally.

[zetahatsudo.livejournal.com]

[Reaching for a training device, grabs it.] ... Set up? [SUDDENLY! STAFF!] Whoa! [Nearly drops from sudden surprise. Was not expecting that to work.]

[coolblueiceman]

[Chrono almost resists the urge to chuckle.] Don't sound so surprised. Devices have a fairly low activation requirement, although that's a good sign. From here you should try to manifest something. Focus within yourself... you'd be surprised what you can come up with without thinking about it.

[fearless-coward.livejournal.com]

[Aidan walks over and picks up a device as soon as Chrono finishes.]

Setup.

[And then one magical transformation sequence later, which totally doesn't include nudity because Nanoha fan service is sexist. Aidan is holding a basic TSAB staff and wearing a generic barrier jacket.]

...This is very strange.

[coolblueiceman]

[Chrono shrugs.] Works for us. Some people use mecha, we use these. It's just the way our technology developed.

Regardless, you seem to have gotten it to respond... care to try a spell next? [Here Chrono gestures at targets set up some distance away.]

[aceshighsword.livejournal.com]

I have to insist that I use a sword device.

Hopefully, there is one amongst these? [[By simply looking at them, she can't fully assume which is which, but, she does happen to pick one up in her hand.]]

[lightning-1.livejournal.com]

(Fate, having finished helping some random people, sees Mio and decides now is the best time to give her the magic lessons she promised.)

Ah, Major Sakamoto. I was hoping to see you here.

Sadly, I must say that there are only staffs here at the moment. We only brought the standard TSAB devices today as we are trying to give just the basics of the basics. If you want a device like Bardiche it would have to be custom made, especially if you want it to be an intelligent device.

[guardian-lynx.livejournal.com]

So aliens have their own kind of magic then, Major?

[Calvina's looking around ambivalently. This isn't something she's used to, and she's hanging around near the younger training officer in an effort to get some academic explanations of this "magic" from someone she vaguely knows. And isn't ten.]

[aceshighmach]

Hey Major Sakamoto! Lookie what I managed to do! [Shirley twirls in her new jacket, leaning on the staff weapon.]

Pretty nice huh? I noticed my ears and tail haven't popped though, so it's definitely coming from my linker core.

[space-mcgyver.livejournal.com]

This is pretty awesome. So, anyone can use a Training Device?

[Lowe is holding a staff in his hand, and looks ready to blast some targets with magic spells - as soon as he figures out how to do it.]

[coolblueiceman]

Generally. For basic shots it's really just point and shoot, but for that most Earth natives will just use a gun. Less flashy, and less of a learning curve. On the upside, though, this just requires will and focus. Try taking a shot at the target down there. [We'll start Lowe off easy.]

[thestrayhawk.livejournal.com]

[He couldn't give up the opportunity, getting his hands on a device he holds it in front of him and follows the instructions from Chrono.]

SET UUUUUUUUUUPPPPPPPPP!

[Now wearing a standard barrier jacket Ichitaka points the staff into the air. Unlike the others he seems to be taking it pretty well.]

So do I need some sort of incantation to cast a spell?

[white-deviling.livejournal.com]

Umm...Ichitaka-san? Have you done something like this before?

[capt-fanservice.livejournal.com]

[Misato is staring at one of the Devices consideringly. She knows she's way too old for this, and as mundane as mundane comes compared to the rest of the people on this ship, but...]

[Something just draws her to these things, and she has no idea why.]

[coolblueiceman]

Ma'am? I promise it won't catch fire, explode, or berate you; so long as you don't order it to. Feel free to give it a try.

...And if you're feeling self-conscious, I'd note that my mother is also a mage; she's the admiral in command of the Asura we're traveling on. [Chrono's seen this type before. Something about all those magical girl anime seems to inspire older women not to take up the art.]

[of-10-faces.livejournal.com]

[Speak of the Devil and he will appear. Tsukasa is interested, mostly because he needed to know how he'd respond to magic.]

So just pick it up and see about casting something.

[Picks up one of the base ones. There's a soft hum of magic, an indicator he had some, but the item just sort of sits there.]

Is it supposed to turn into something?

[OMG. Is he... not good at magic?]

[coolblueiceman]

[Hey, it's a passing Kamen Rider. Chrono feels obligated to help.]

You'll want to call it to 'Set Up' first. A basic Device like that won't do anything until it's activated.

[By way of demonstration, Chrono draws a metallic card from a pocket.] My device has a name, but aside from that... S2U, Set Up! [The card reforms and lengthens into a staff about as tall as Chrono.] You should get something like this.

[aceshighmach]

Set Up!

[There's a tingle of magic, not unlike how she draws power from her familiar but the lack of bunny ears is apparent. The training device expands as expected and her clothing swirls around as it changes to what kind of looks like a old style flight suit with a long jacket. No pants though but she doesn't need it.]

Tingly... it's not unlike drawing power on my familiar but I can feel it thrumming this time... Let's see...

[Aiming the device at the target, she cocked it like a real weapon, and closed her eyes. A slow hum increased as a male voice proclaimed.] 3. 2. 1...!

BARRIER BUSTER!

[Its a weak blast, but it knocks a target clean off its moorings and slams it into the wall.]

[coolblueiceman]

[The sound draws Chrono, who blinks as he takes in the Barrier Jacket.] Well, that's something. Custom Jacket, already found a spell... You have a real potential as a mage, Shirley, but then, you already know that from Major Sakamoto. And if I had to guess, I'd say you're like Nanoha - good against things with strong defenses. If you wanted to pursue Midchildan magic, you'd want to talk to her... actually, I think I saw her running around here.

In any case, there are other kinds of spells than just attack magic. Care to see if your shields with a Device are as good as your shields in a Striker unit? [S2U extends into a staff with a thought, Chrono's Barrier Jacket forming.]

1/2

[vjockey.livejournal.com]

[Cheng was somewhat disbelieving of it. Then he remembered who else was on the ship as well as his own contract and tossed what he did and did not believe out the air lock. He proceeds to pick up one of the training devices, testing its weight.]

Set up!

[Nothing happens. A slight twinge, but it felt more like it was on account of someone else's influence on him.]

SET UP!!

[Once more, a lot of nothing. Not even a reaction from the device. Cheng has a look of frustration on his face as he proceeded to yell and cuss in his mother tongue in addition to trying to will the Device into working.]

2/2

[vjockey.livejournal.com]

[Cheng almost flings the device away but just lets out an agitated growl and punches his fist to a convenient wall. Letting out a harsh sigh. He didn't expect to be good at anything but to completely fail right out of the starting line? That was a harsh blow right there.]

[curseu-reflexes.livejournal.com]

[Have Julia experimenting around a bit. She's managed to get the hang of a rather unimpressive spell... but for the life of her she can't quite manage to do anything else. At first she seems confused by it all, but soon enough it begins to dawn on her.]

Chrono said the Linker Core was like a muscle, didn't he...?

Guess that means Irgelion limitations are just as prevalent with them as they are with other muscles.

[chases-aliens.livejournal.com]

Juuuliiiaaaa~ [Have a Dita running up to you, waving. She's got a training device as well, and a custom jacket that looks suspiciously like her usual clothing, but the added frills to it was a telling note that she had gone pure girly-style for it.]

Are you doing okay with it?

[saikyocivrobo]

Hmm. Is it possible for an outside force to block or disrupt your Linker Core, so that you can't use magic?

[coolblueiceman]

[Chrono frowns.] It's possible, though not common; technology exists that can broadcast anti-magic fields, inside which spellcasting is difficult or impossible. The technology's controlled by the Bureau, which of course means it's on the black market somewhere, but it's expensive to produce, so the average pirate or criminal can't afford to use it.

That's ignoring people who can actually take your Linker Core, like the Wolkenritter almost did to Nanoha earlier. She got better, but...

Because you demanded it!

[subject-0057.livejournal.com]

[Allelujah watches the proceedings for a while, not sure what to think of it. After about five minutes, though, he walks over to the spare devices and picks one up cautiously, half expecting it to blow up in his face.]

I wonder how they work...

Re: Because you demanded it!

[coolblueiceman]

[Chrono walks over.] The command to activate it is 'Set Up'. It'll expand into a staff. [He gestures at the trainees, who amazingly haven't blown up yet.] They're surprisingly easy to use, but hard to master, especially higher-power spells.