middaeg | ✧ [OPEN] Magic Marksmanship 101

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✧ [OPEN] Magic Marksmanship 101

Who: Towa Herschel and OPEN
When: November 21st
Where: In an open field in the Haven
What: Magic classes centering around the use of guns and magic
Warnings: Guns and magic and glitter, oh my--

The Basics

[What Towa has become accustomed to over the course of the last three months is a form of evocation magic that allows her to channel magic through her gun. Considering that Crow's gotten his gun back and Machias is here now, she decided it might be a good time to offer to pass along what she knows to others who use similar weapons, friend and stranger alike. It hadn't been easy for her by any means, so if she can help instruct others so that they don't hurt themselves the way she did-- there's no question about it.

And the timing couldn't be better. With people putting out things they no longer need, there's no shortage of targets for the exercise.

For those that don't have their own weapon yet, she does have one she can loan out to potential students. Naturally there's no live ammunition in them-- but Towa has some on her, for any monsters that might like to give it a try with magically enchanted bullets.]

I brought some gloves for everyone. They're designed with a protective material that will keep your hands safe in the case that something should go wrong. It doesn't matter the element-- of even if there is none-- it will keep you safe from any recoil. I don't want a repeat of my first time here.

The Experimental

[While the basics aren't bad, there are still probably a lot of new ways to think about utilizing magic and guns. Not all of them have to be violent even. Towa's certainly more than happy to encourage a bit of safe experimentation as well. After all-- they're all still learning to some extent.]

Were you thinking of something different?

[She's pretty perceptive. If there's something you'd like to make happen, know that Towa Herschel will do everything in her power to make it a reality. Whether it's glitter bombs, fireworks, sound waves... doesn't matter. Let's experiment with magic together!]

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[ There's something to be said for having his twin guns back. Crow loves his double saber obviously-- it's his weapon of choice when it comes down to crunch time-- but there's something comforting and familiar about having his guns at the ready. Not that he can use them as-is.

Then again, that's why he's here.

He jumped at the chance Towa had provided him to learn how to use them here despite the limitations on orbal technology the place presented. Still, even though he's actually listening as Towa talks instead of slacking off, he can't help but grin at the last part of her comment. ]

What happened your first time?

[Being able to invite Crow to join them was an added bonus-- although she shouldn't be surprised that he'd ask. If anything, she's actually surprised she's been able to hide it this long.

If anything, she probably has the gloves she'd worn at the masquerade to thank for that. He probably would have noticed otherwise. He's perceptive at the worst of times.

Towa takes off her gloves. They're barely noticeable anymore, but she has a collection of burn scars over the front of her fingers.]

I... kind of overdid it. Despite being warned. So! None of that this time.

[ Crow reaches over to grab her hand, brushing his fingertips lightly over the burn scars. ]

Why am I not surprised you'd push yourself that hard?

[ Really, it'd be more of a shocker if she hadn't pushed herself to that point. Crow can be pretty reckless himself but there's a reason he's good at field medicine okay. ]

[The pain's long gone, but it's a unique feeling-- to feel the touch and be particularly aware of the scars. It's an odd sensitivity.]

Yeaaah... you and everyone else that knows me apparently.

[She laughs, but she knows now it was pretty foolish of her. It's honestly a good thing it wasn't any worse. Forget her though-- She takes Crow's hand and passes over a pair of gloves.]]

But that's why I'm ready this time!

[ He slips the gloves on and flexes his hands, testing the feel and weight of them. ]

That's because you never change. Not that part of you, anyway.

[ He sighs but it's at least somewhat fond. ]

Anyway, let's get this party started.

[ Machias is enjoying every minute of this lesson, thank you very much~ And while he's a little rough to start, he quickly gets the hang of it. Soon enough, he's firing magic shells as if they were the real deal! Awesome. He can definitely say he feels much better now that his shotgun is useful again here.

He's looking down at his shotgun when Towa catches him pondering - sharp as ever. He looks up at her and smiles a little, shrugs a shoulder. ]

Actually, I was thinking... There are ways to do elemental shots like this, what about protective ones? Abjuration magic? I'd like to try something like that. Do you think it's possible?

[ So he's a little biased toward his best subject, sue him~ ]

[That's a very sharp line of thinking, she's not surprised Machias of all people would think of something like that.]

Abjuration... yes, I think there are a few different ways that could be attempted with bullets. The easiest might be to use them to dispel magic.

[That said, she can think of a theory for barriers, too. Abjuration isn't her specialty, but that's all the more reason to support Machias' growth in that area.]

But I don't think barriers are impossible either. If you used the bullet to strike something to act as an "anchor", or something to attach the protective radius to, I think it could work.

[She can't argue with that.

Who knew one day she'd actually get to instruct Crow in anything? Especially something he'd show up for willingly. As he gets comfortable, she starts going over the basics.]

Alright. So! You can use magical energy in it's most basic form. It's a neutral force and easier to control at the onset than anything specialized, so it's a good place to start.

[Not where she started but. Ahahaha...]

However, you can also implement elements. You've seen the way that works for yourself, actually. It's harder to control, but has a lot more uses than just straight damage.

Oh, you're right - a shot to dispel magic does seem like the most doable. [ Things to think about!! He's definitely gonna make a point to try that one out soon. ]

And an "anchor" for barriers... That's a good foundation. Direct the shot and let the barrier form from that point, essentially. [ Nod! ] It's worth a try, at least. Shall we?

[ This is interesting! And fun. In a nerdy kind of way, but whatever, this is great! Towa's incredibly intelligent, and he's pretty sure with the two of them putting their heads together, it's bound to lead somewhere. ]

Right? It would be quite useful against illusions-- which means that's something I can help you test out.

[But first! The all important matter of protection.]

Even using the ground to mark the spot should ideally be possible. It would probably have time limitations. Using solid ammunition as a base might actually allow it to work better since it would have a vessel to attach to.

[Nerds in their true element, truly. It's kind of exciting-- she hasn't had anyone to talk to about this kind of thing before. She's so glad her quarterstaff days are long, long behind her.]

[ Crow nods. ]

That makes sense. So largely, it's about the way you use and implement the magic...?

That's right. It's all about what you want to accomplish with it. Once you're more comfortable with the idea behind it, it's actually pretty versatile.

[Despite how Crow likes to act about classes, she has high hopes for him in this area.]

That would be great, thank you!

[ This is the best collaboration day ever!! ]

Well, I don't have much solid ammo with me, but we can do at least a couple trials, I think. [ He reaches into his inside coat pocket - time to load up a few shells, looks like! He nods at a "target" - someone's discarded box full of odds and ends. ] I'll try aiming at the ground in front of that, and see if I can't make a barrier form upward. How's that?

I brought a little extra with me-- I should have some that you can use.

[First and foremost, she'd taken Crow and Machias' weapon types into consideration when she'd prepared for today. While she tried to be ready for anything, at the very least she wanted to be ready to support them.]

Understood! Try to focus on the size you want it to be. Right now, the smaller a space you protect, the stronger the barrier will be. The more you stretch it out, the more energy it will require and the less protection it will have to spread around.

[Limitations are something to take into consideration, as she learned the hard way. But it's also something that can be used to develop strategy.]

It definitely sounds useful. So...

[ Crow twirls one of the guns casually in his hand as he talks. ]

How long did it take you to figure out how to do all this?

Let’s see... it was a little over a month until I got to the point I could fire it at all. That’s when the explosion happened. It was about a half a month after that I started getting comfortable with it. And that was still way better than the time I tried to use a quarterstaff for training.

[Short people problems.]

But that was me on my own. I’m sure you’ll do much better than I did.

[She knows Crow— if he works at it, he has the potential to be even better than she is now.]

...A quarterstaff....

[ He squints at Towa for a moment but wisely doesn't say anything further than that. There's no need to point out what a terrible weapon choice that is for her in particular and he's not actually trying to antagonize her at the moment. ]

If I do better, it's only 'cause you set the groundwork for it. Don't sell yourself short.

[ He swears that's not a crack at her height. ]

Witches are typically expected to use long-range weapons. In their case, that meant choosing between a quarterstaff, halberd or a lance.

[She knows. But honestly, just know that she did in fact choose the least terrible of the options.]

That's kind of why I wanted to work so hard to get my orbal gun working. I knew that trying to work with any of those would just be a disaster. I'm really glad that all the work I did is going to come in handy though.

[Crow will have a good deal of adaptability when he can get this down, between two very different weapons. So she's going to do her best to push him to great success.]

You always did like to make extra work for yourself.

[ He's teasing her, but he doesn't even think she's wrong. And really, the orbal gun suits her better than any of those other options anyway. ]

Buuut I'm looking forward to benefiting from it. Especially if it means less work for me.

[Well it’s not like she enjoyed the extra work or not sleeping— but it always felt good when she could lessen the burden on others.

When he puts it like that though—]

Don’t worry, I plan to work you pretty hard. It won’t be any good if you end up being a danger to yourself or someone else.

[Less, maybe, but not much less work.]

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✧ [OPEN] Magic Marksmanship 101

The Basics

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Experimental

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