Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Character Creation and Discussion (second reincarnation)

[Jimmy C]

Originally Posted by Keroko

her purple/green Device on her hands, which looks like a Device meant to augument her melee abillities, concidering the knuckles.

I don't think that can be considered a Device. It's more like the gems decorating other BJs. Besides, if it was a Device, where had it been hiding prior to appearing?

[Kha]

Everyone covered the points nicely, and yes Data Collection can be the baseline skill for Tra--

*is shot*

But without further ado, another excellent artist mercurianangel has gracefully agreed to help out with the Codex, and here's another shot:

Spoiler for Kha in Knight's Garb:

Original Kha is brighter than Clone Kha, so this pic does bring out the difference more than Fate's sketch, which was meant to catch Kha in his darker moods.

Kha is decked in his Knight's Garb, which is easily inverted to become the Knight Armor mode, sans some consecrated metal plating that we see in Fate's sketch. Behind him is the coat of arms of the Cleric-Knights, the aptly named Celestial Being, Chamber Militant of the Licht von Belka.

I wanted a good cassock for Kha's clerical duties, but since the Kruznik's refused to leave my mind... I used it. And yes I should've gone Alucard pose, but this pic was based off Shiro's character song album cover, and Alucard might be more of an OOC reference for reference sake, so I'll pass.

And most of all, mercurianangel managed to bring out all that in a professionally done manner! The assistant to Dark God Satashi bestows us with a great gift! We must thank her wholeheartedly!

[Silvance]

Originally Posted by Kha

Spoiler for Kha in Knight's Garb:

.


MercurianAngel truly is godly o_o. I'm quite envious of your skills expecially when coloring the sketch . Kha's coolness leveled up even more

[Kha]

The both of you have different strengths, so really there's no real comparison! I'm just very very grateful to have both of you helping.

[Silvance]

no need for thanks, Kha. It was a good practice for me before I design Asclei's third barrier jacket--Sigma Form (full bodied armor). Besides, it was fun too XD.

[krisslanza]

*Envys Kha and his free art*

[Tk3997]

Originally Posted by Keroko

Longinus, Amenonuhoko, Luín, Gae Bolg, Trishula, Rhongomiant, Kongo, Bionac, Culghlas, Crann Buidhe, Cual gae...

There's quite a lot of them, its just that Gungnir and Gae Bolg show up fastest, and Gungnir has ties in Norse Mythology like Levantein, making it an obvious choice, while Gae Bolg isn't used for equally obvious reasons. Don't want people to scream Lancer rippof just for your choice of weapon after all.

And I know like... two of those. Should probably have clarifed that you tend to hear less about supposedly magical spears and such then you do about magic swords in fiction and "histroy".

Though I'm surprised you would actually go for a hammer over a spear. Speaking of which though, do we have anyone with a device called Mjolnir?

Acutally what I meant was that you hear about Mjolnir all over the place for anything even VAUGELY martail or hammer related and it's way more overexposed IMO (Of course both pale into insignifgance before the Grand Champion Excalibur dosen't matter WHAT it is some version of it has surely been named Excalibur at some time be it a Spaceship, Transofmring Mecha, Artillery Shell, or horse grooming products...). as for the second bit I'd be stunned if we didn't and yet I can't recall one off the top of my head.

I usually prefer snipers when playing shooters. Ironic, isn't it?

I was referring more to TF:2 specifically in which the Solider is the closest thing to an “all around class” hell his rockets are actually one of the better distance weapons since they don’t spread at all and have no range limit. (Though they are kind of slow so the lead at longer ranges becomes an issue, but hey they’re ROCKETS that’s what splash damage is for…)

In more general terms though I prefer to play a mid range character who may also have a slight bent toward longer range battle if I had a signature weapon it would probably be a scoped assault rifle with decent per hit damage and accuracy. (The fact medic type characters in the BF series get this is merely one more reason I like it ).

*taps chin* True, after all Rule of Cool is widely used in Nanoha already.

I think half the shit in the series basically runs on it.

I'd think he could use a utillity spell or two to give him some melee defence at least. Maybe a delayed bind spell or something to prevent people from getting close. Or Barrier Burst to create distance between him and anyone who gets close. Since his position is to 'move as little as possible' he'd be using movement magic to hold his ground, and his oponent is the one who flies away.

In this case his “melee defense” is his speed focused teammate bashing anyone that tries to get near him in the face with a spear, and failing that a strong barrier is a rather good defense against melee. (Just ask Yunno) Besides the entire point was that he’s a tank and is slow but with high firepower and defense it might take him half the fight to get into position, but once he dose watch out and if you need a guy to stand somewhere and keep people back he’s your man.

And yes I know I’ve always promoted a fairly generalist approaches before and this seems to go against that, but trust me I haven’t forgotten and his massive lack of speed will be an issue that’s noted. This guy is one of the newer somewhat lower level recruits in the fic (AA- at induction) and a number of those guys have developed in ways that aren’t really ideal due a lack of effective guidance and have been getting by mostly on raw power and talent.

So instead of what canon does, and drop defence in favor of speed, you drop attack in favor of speed?

Sort of the style is less about like huge knock out attacks fueled by cartridge spam and more about multiple faster, but weaker attacks (this also makes it useful against multiple weaker foes). Defense is also on average a bit weaker, but speed is a bit higher. Perhaps the biggest difference is that you won’t see a ton of classic Nanoha style spell casting none of these guys are going to be tossing energy beams and bolts and stuff. Its basically geared toward emulating a more “classic” anime style melee system allot of Charles Atlas Superpowers, absurd ability to soak damage, and vaguely magical special attacks but the guys aren’t actually flying, shooting energy blasts, and forming glowing energy shield domes and stuff (mostly at least if they purport to be "pure" examples).

In practice Belka could do pretty much the same thing so it’s somewhat less a matter of it being vastly different system so much as having a different focus. Basically these guys aren’t tanks like many Belkan users they still have good attack power, pretty good speed, and a so-so defense. The lack of cartridges reduces there ability to get in big hits, but also reduces strain and the emphasis away from high powered magical fireworks reduces mana use giving them better endurance. (though at an overall lower output for the most part) Honestly Belka is quite possibly an overall superior system, but it has one critical disadvantage it’s foreign. The other system in question is basically a home grown system that’s part of the planets overall culture and so is still taught and preferred by many of the worlds users. Course this also reduces the injection of fresh ideas and many of the users can come off as stuffy and close minded.

Though really the entire idea is sort of a "take that!" at the fact that allot of melee fighters around seem to be Belks that rely on spamming reams of cartridges in order to attack at "Maximum POWA!!!". Really though I don't like the cartridge spam in general and in my fic I've tried to tone it down and make using them actually seem like a choice with drawbacks instead of it just being SOP for everyone with a name to spam the fuck out of them. I think I had like a dozen guys in my latest fight scene and precisely three of them even had cartridge systems fitted on there devices to begin with: Vita, Felix, and Pixy and they weren’t even actually using them.

This is old, but as I eat through the backlog this caught my eye.

Originally Posted by Keroko

One has to remember that the Belkans also managed to manufacture those Type IV drones. If they can manufacture dones of that level, re-design and re-program warships (and concidering its role as a birthplace, this was done long before 300 years ago), why should other conventional weaponry be a limit?

Now this is just a personal theory, and has no base whatsoever, but I am sensing that part of the objection here is because it means that the melee-oriented Belkan magic would have been a match for conventional ranged weaponry.

Needless to say, there are certain sources here who would not be happy with that being canon.

OR too turn it around it could mean that magic simply wasn't a huge factor in the old wars and that while mages had a role as powerful infantry units conventional weapons like tanks, aircraft, and such played a very large part as well and may have been superior to mages in many roles which would make OTHER people unhappy.

That said this is a false dilemma IMO it intrinsically seems to assume that either magic or tech must be dominate and that they can’t co-exist with some sort of balance of power between them. This is nonsense mages would CLEARLY have a rule in any war even with a high tech level, but unlike in the entirely artificial state of affairs in the current TSAB they wouldn’t be the ONLY players or possibly even the players with the most sway. I have no problem seeing how this would work as I envisioned something very much like this for the war on Usea stuff like aerial mages escorting troop carrying helicopters while fighter jets flew top cover higher up for instance. My own crack verse is even more absurd with stuff like mages in rocket propelled power armor fighting battlemechs and war droids, while transforming fighter jets duke it out in the sky, and legions of mecha and battleships contest orbit. (needless to say when some members of this culture are exposed to the TSABs “methods” or warfare they find them somewhat... quaint.)

[LoweGear]

Originally Posted by Kha

Spoiler for Kha in Knight's Garb:

CELESTIAL BEING INDEED!!!!!

Damn, looks very AWESOMELY Spiffy there Mercurianangel truly is GODLIKE

[Keroko]

Originally Posted by Jimmy C

I don't think that can be considered a Device. It's more like the gems decorating other BJs. Besides, if it was a Device, where had it been hiding prior to appearing?

It's the closest thing we have, especially concidering these gems look a lot like Caro/ Lutecia's Devices, which were also gems on gloves. As for where it had been hiding, inside the Relic is a good possibility. It was a Relic that was specific to the Saint King after all.

And those 'decorative gems' on other Barrier Jackets are actually functional parts of the Barrier Jacket.

Originally Posted by Kha

Everyone covered the points nicely, and yes Data Collection can be the baseline skill for Tra--

*is shot*

It does show that copying is not at all beyond possible.

Originally Posted by Kha

But without further ado, another excellent artist mercurianangel has gracefully agreed to help out with the Codex, and here's another shot:

Spoiler for Kha in Knight's Garb:

Original Kha is brighter than Clone Kha, so this pic does bring out the difference more than Fate's sketch, which was meant to catch Kha in his darker moods.

Kha is decked in his Knight's Garb, which is easily inverted to become the Knight Armor mode, sans some consecrated metal plating that we see in Fate's sketch. Behind him is the coat of arms of the Cleric-Knights, the aptly named Celestial Being, Chamber Militant of the Licht von Belka.

I wanted a good cassock for Kha's clerical duties, but since the Kruznik's refused to leave my mind... I used it. And yes I should've gone Alucard pose, but this pic was based off Shiro's character song album cover, and Alucard might be more of an OOC reference for reference sake, so I'll pass.

And most of all, mercurianangel managed to bring out all that in a professionally done manner! The assistant to Dark God Satashi bestows us with a great gift! We must thank her wholeheartedly!

Wow, yet another awesome Kha picture!

Though it slipped my mind... what is the difference between white hair/orange hair Kha?

Originally Posted by Tk3997

And I know like... two of those. Should probably have clarifed that you tend to hear less about supposedly magical spears and such then you do about magic swords in fiction and "histroy".

That's true. The amount of well known legendary swords is staggering compared to other weapons.

Now bows, those tend to be tricky to find.

Originally Posted by Tk3997

Acutally what I meant was that you hear about Mjolnir all over the place for anything even VAUGELY martail or hammer related and it's way more overexposed IMO (Of course both pale into insignifgance before the Grand Champion Excalibur dosen't matter WHAT it is some version of it has surely been named Excalibur at some time be it a Spaceship, Transofmring Mecha, Artillery Shell, or horse grooming products...). as for the second bit I'd be stunned if we didn't and yet I can't recall one off the top of my head.

Nor can I... Weird, you'd think that Vita would spawn a legion of hammer wielding mages.

Originally Posted by Tk3997

I think half the shit in the series basically runs on it.

Probably more then half, but I don't care.

Originally Posted by Tk3997

In this case his “melee defense” is his speed focused teammate bashing anyone that tries to get near him in the face with a spear, and failing that a strong barrier is a rather good defense against melee. (Just ask Yunno) Besides the entire point was that he’s a tank and is slow but with high firepower and defense it might take him half the fight to get into position, but once he dose watch out and if you need a guy to stand somewhere and keep people back he’s your man.

And yes I know I’ve always promoted a fairly generalist approaches before and this seems to go against that, but trust me I haven’t forgotten and his massive lack of speed will be an issue that’s noted. This guy is one of the newer somewhat lower level recruits in the fic (AA- at induction) and a number of those guys have developed in ways that aren’t really ideal due a lack of effective guidance and have been getting by mostly on raw power and talent.

Noted. And nothing wrong with going outside your normal aproach, Syn is shaping up to be a mid- to long range combatant with virtually no melee offensive. Usually my characters tend to be close- to mid ranged, if not purely close-ranged characters.

Originally Posted by Tk3997

Sort of the style is less about like huge knock out attacks fueled by cartridge spam and more about multiple faster, but weaker attacks (this also makes it useful against multiple weaker foes). Defense is also on average a bit weaker, but speed is a bit higher. Perhaps the biggest difference is that you won’t see a ton of classic Nanoha style spell casting none of these guys are going to be tossing energy beams and bolts and stuff. Its basically geared toward emulating a more “classic” anime style melee system allot of Charles Atlas Superpowers, absurd ability to soak damage, and vaguely magical special attacks but the guys aren’t actually flying, shooting energy blasts, and forming glowing energy shield domes and stuff (mostly at least if they purport to be "pure" examples).

I always wondered why none of these tropes was applied to Vita when she got stabbed...

Originally Posted by Tk3997

Though really the entire idea is sort of a "take that!" at the fact that allot of melee fighters around seem to be Belks that rely on spamming reams of cartridges in order to attack at "Maximum POWA!!!". Really though I don't like the cartridge spam in general and in my fic I've tried to tone it down and make using them actually seem like a choice with drawbacks instead of it just being SOP for everyone with a name to spam the fuck out of them. I think I had like a dozen guys in my latest fight scene and precisely three of them even had cartridge systems fitted on there devices to begin with: Vita, Felix, and Pixy and they weren’t even actually using them.

Then you may find it amusing that if canon continues with what we're given, Vivio will completely lack a Cartridge system.

Originally Posted by Tk3997

This is old, but as I eat through the backlog this caught my eye.
OR too turn it around it could mean that magic simply wasn't a huge factor in the old wars and that while mages had a role as powerful infantry units conventional weapons like tanks, aircraft, and such played a very large part as well and may have been superior to mages in many roles which would make OTHER people unhappy.

That said this is a false dilemma IMO it intrinsically seems to assume that either magic or tech must be dominate and that they can’t co-exist with some sort of balance of power between them. This is nonsense mages would CLEARLY have a rule in any war even with a high tech level, but unlike in the entirely artificial state of affairs in the current TSAB they wouldn’t be the ONLY players or possibly even the players with the most sway. I have no problem seeing how this would work as I envisioned something very much like this for the war on Usea stuff like aerial mages escorting troop carrying helicopters while fighter jets flew top cover higher up for instance. My own crack verse is even more absurd with stuff like mages in rocket propelled power armor fighting battlemechs and war droids, while transforming fighter jets duke it out in the sky, and legions of mecha and battleships contest orbit. (needless to say when some members of this culture are exposed to the TSABs “methods” or warfare they find them somewhat... quaint.)

Yes, this point is spawned of the age old 'conventional weaponry would destroy mages' debate. It's a well known fact that both mass-based weaponry and magic were used in the wars, which in my eyes pretty much makes the two equal.

[Jimmy C]

Originally Posted by Keroko

As for where it had been hiding, inside the Relic is a good possibility.

If that's the case, that particular Device is gone, courtesy of Nanoha's Starlight Breaker. She'll be needing a new Device as a combat mage.

And those 'decorative gems' on other Barrier Jackets are actually functional parts of the Barrier Jacket.

Though true, those gems aren't like the Devices mages use for casting attack spells.

[Tk3997]

Just noticed this while continuing the troll backlog, putting requests for input in spoiler tags is a GREAT way to get it missed by the target when he's skimming the backlog by the way.

Originally Posted by Wild Goose

Anyhow, a quick outline of things happening in Task Force Six (the following was written in spurts of 5 minutes here and there over the past week so it may seem disjointed): "Things in Task Force Six" Because TF6 is my attempt to write something happier and more cheerful compared to Alpha... The larger TF6 comprises of the Aces, the Forwards, and the Hammer Squad, a 5-man det from the OFM lead by Franz (Hammer Actual).

Is this including Keroko and Tesla or no?

You know at this point I realise that I have no fucking clue what to do with Felix beyond investigating and verbal sparring with vita.

Well it's not like I write the plot for you I mean characterization tips are one thing, but I can't invent stuff for you to do with him... I can maybe give some idea seeds though with regards to how he'd interact and such.

Spoiler for Stuff he could do:

Some things that pop into my mind as possible things for him to "do":

Major Character Interactions:
Fate:
He’d probably find her a tad naive and sickeningly sweet though it's likely that somewhat because of this he won't be able to muster the venom to talk serious smack to her face. (He's kind of like a troll the more you feed him the worse he's gets) Smack talk when she's not around or more mild bitching is unavoidable though. Also unlike seemingly everyone else around the sub-text with her and Nanoha would not be at ALL lost on him, and unable to bring himself to really lash out teasing along this avenue is likely to be his main weapon here. Flusteration is of course nearly inevitable in the target.

It’s also worth noting he’s actually adopted a kid and raised him to the age of 16 as of the start of StrikerS. I’ll admit that this is an aspect of his character I’ve neglected (though I have plans to expand on it in USW), but it’s there and so he’d actually know a thing or two about taking care of a brat (His words not mine… really) and would be one of the precious few things they have in common.

Nanoha:
He’s unlikely to have allot to do with Nanoha they share basically no interests, no duties, and he’s dealing with enough messiahs as it is in his opinion. He’d respect her power, but might sometimes question her experience and lessons having been exposed to a harsher and higher intensity style of warfare then she’s ever really been involved with. Things might shift a bit when Vivio comes along he’d actually have considerably more experience with kids then she dose and it’s not impossible she might seek his advice with regards to some aspects of child rearing. (His own somewhat old school approach is likely to coincide with her own as well he never abused Alan, but he never coddled him in the slightest either.)

Hayate:
-He’d probably have even less to do with Hayate since as the department head Fate would be the one reporting too her and he’d have little reason to seek her out. Disparaging remarks on her chosen combat style are likely though and of the aces he’d likely consider her the weakest and might question her suitability to lead in private.

The Knights:
He’d likely dislike them via association with Vita (whose interactions with him need no real description again the troll thing she’d talk back to him which would increase his virulence and it would escalate from there.) He’s unlikely to deal with Shamal and Zafira much at all.

Signum:
He’ll deal with somewhat more; perhaps even more then Vita since she actually works with Fate. Interaction here is likely to be characterized by attempts at avoidance and politeness Felix might be a hateful cynic, but he’s not stupid and he’d know her reputation. She’d also be one of the people he’d likely find least objectionable anyway and lacking any aspect about her that would really annoy him he’s likely to be able to ger along with her rather well; there might be hints of grudging respect. However any attempt to get him to fight her is doomed to fail Felix fights for three reasons:
1-He’s ordered too
2-He’s being paid too
3-He’s fucking pissed

Notice “For fun” is not on that list.

Subaru:
As I've mentioned before I think he'd find her incredibly annoying for being entirely too much like Alan for his tastes. To exploit this to the max one could perhaps bring Alan in as well in a manner somewhat like Ginga for on again off again training sessions allowing him the "joy" or dealing with both at once.

Ginga:
Speak of Ginga she was supposed to be working investigation too having him paired with her and in confusion over how to respond to his disparaging remarks about her sister has comedy potential.

Teana:
He’d likely find Teana the least objectionable forward, but seeing that she’s probably going to be swamped by attention already he’d steer clear for the most part. Though eye rolling at her drama queen antics and full support of Nanoha’s smack down after the HA incident are likely. Also this line is probably muttered at some point during the incident as well…


Care and Erio:
No really strong feelings one way or another he might somewhat question Caro’s suitability for combat though he’s unlikely to find Erio very objectionable considering his attitude proper and his character a good match for that career path. There’s also a chance that as one of the few males present and with some experience dealing with boys his age he might watch out for him a bit and dispense advice.

Vivio:
Due to his above noted experience with kids it’s possible he’d be “enlisted” to aid Zafira in dealing with the spore at times. One scenario that comes to mind is him and Vita being forced to watch her and him handling it with a practiced disinterested ease while she fails utterly and is nearly pulling her hair out. He’d also NEVER admit it, but kids ARE something he’s developed a slight soft spot for over the years and he’d probably treat her rather well.

Other Crap:
Frankly part of the issue is just that the “investigation” aspect of the show was utterly shafted in favor of the training just taking over everything for most of the first half. If there is ONE thing I’d correct about the show it would be this namely less of the boot camp crap and more of RF6 actually appearing to be trying to proactively do it’s job. Ideas about this follow:
-Smuggling is mentioned let’s see some actual attempts to track this and where it’s coming and going
-Jail didn’t build that army of his out of recycled beer cans there HAS to be a logistic trail behind this even if it’s just raw materials to be processed on site.
-He contracted out Vivio’s cloning this indicates he’s quite probably part of a larger criminal network possibly related to the above two issues. Some foot work trying to track his contacts and see if anyone is willing (or can be forced or bribed) to talk is in order.
-More active efforts to locate relics or other possible targets before they’re attacked.
-A more concerted effort to gauge the enemies true strength particularly in the wake of the first combat cyborg roll out.

Really the problem IMO isn’t so much what Felix should be doing it’s what the investigative section should have been doing, but that’s never shown at all really. Fate is never shown doing much of anything it’s just said “oh she’s not around”, but for all we know she’s driving off to hit the spa for a couple hours every day. As for the overall usage of Felix he's very much a Grumpy Bear in this setting and should probably be used accordingly.

And I guess you been watching NCIS...

Not religiously I catch it on TV when I can (No cash for teh DVDs) I also draw experience from you know going to college for a career in police work. My teachers are all ex or current cops and we've got guys that come to class in full uniform (LOADED GUN INCLUDED). If you want to learn about being a cop without actually being one you won't find a much better place. Hell I mean the building itself is labeled "Public Safety" !

[Kha]

Originally Posted by Keroko

It does show that copying is not at all beyond possible.

Canon-tan must've felt that she needed to remind me that she still loves me?

Originally Posted by Keroko

Wow, yet another awesome Kha picture!

Though it slipped my mind... what is the difference between white hair/orange hair Kha?

The white hair is a symbol of his Alhazredian bloodline that was programmed into him by his mother's body. When activated, the person starts Linking larger amounts of Light, greatly increasing the effect of Light spells cast by the person, fortifies his body against the forces of Chaos and consequently turning all of his hair white.

Mother and child know not of the origins of this ability, but Canoness theorized that it could be due to Kia's energy source, for her biomechanical body is powered by a Relic-like crystal. As this then is a source of greed for Man, Kia was taught to hide this ability, and only use it when necessary. The risk of magical burnout increases the longer the crystal is maintained at a heightened state as well, so it would be wiser not to keep it running all the time.

Kia taught how to manage this blood power to Kha, and whenever he donned the mask, he uses this ability to harness the power of the Light to the fullest. It coincidentally created a "alter ego" look. He made no effort to broadcast his name, but that hair and his prominent display of crosses eventually earned him the moniker, The Cleric.

...taken from the Superhero Cookbook of Stan Lee. It started from me deciding to combine the Super Mahou archetype with the Harem Hero archetype. <.<

I know all that then raises questions about Kia's origins and such, but I haven't got time to delve into it properly...

[Kyral]

Originally Posted by Kha

But without further ado, another excellent artist mercurianangel has gracefully agreed to help out with the Codex, and here's another shot:

Spoiler for Kha in Knight's Garb:

Kha really is mobilizing all the great artists he can find.

Ah well... let's join in!

mercurianangel mercurianangel mercurianangel

[Kha]

mercurianangel -fate- mercurianangel -fate-

[Keroko]

Originally Posted by Jimmy C

If that's the case, that particular Device is gone, courtesy of Nanoha's Starlight Breaker. She'll be needing a new Device as a combat mage.

True, but its recreation is not a stretch to imagine.

Originally Posted by Jimmy C

Though true, those gems aren't like the Devices mages use for casting attack spells.

No, and those gems are usually on the shoulders, wrist end of the sleeves, and in some cases the boots. Name me one mage that had gems on their hands and not having it be a Device.

Originally Posted by Kha

Canon-tan must've felt that she needed to remind me that she still loves me?

Keroko-kun: Admit it. You felt sorry for him.

Keroko-tan: *puffs cheeks and looks away*

Originally Posted by Kha

The white hair is a symbol of his Alhazredian bloodline that was programmed into him by his mother's body. When activated, the person starts Linking larger amounts of Light, greatly increasing the effect of Light spells cast by the person, fortifies his body against the forces of Chaos and consequently turning all of his hair white.

Mother and child know not of the origins of this ability, but Canoness theorized that it could be due to Kia's energy source, for her biomechanical body is powered by a Relic-like crystal. As this then is a source of greed for Man, Kia was taught to hide this ability, and only use it when necessary. The risk of magical burnout increases the longer the crystal is maintained at a heightened state as well, so it would be wiser not to keep it running all the time.

Kia taught how to manage this blood power to Kha, and whenever he donned the mask, he uses this ability to harness the power of the Light to the fullest. It coincidentally created a "alter ego" look. He made no effort to broadcast his name, but that hair and his prominent display of crosses eventually earned him the moniker, The Cleric.

...taken from the Superhero Cookbook of Stan Lee. It started from me deciding to combine the Super Mahou archetype with the Harem Hero archetype. <.<

I know all that then raises questions about Kia's origins and such, but I haven't got time to delve into it properly...

Ah yes, now I remember. Though this could be tweaked to be less Al Hazardian in origin, and more Belkan (optional, we know that both are possible).

The Belkan did biological altering to their bodies too, and since Kha is linked to Belkan lore, it could be possible that he is a descendant of the human weapons that were fielded in those wars.

[Kha]

Yup, MARVEL Comics style (even though I kinda hate most of their work... ).

[dkellis]

Canon check the following, please.

Spoiler for Report:

Being a Preliminary Report on the Existence and Disposition of the Thirteen Dread and Forbidden Devices
for The Most Honourable And Holy Dame Carim Gracia
prepared by the Belka Institute of History, Natural Philosophy, and Thaumaturgy

Our Most High and Worthy Lord and King
I praise your name unto the heavens, that you may bless this humble spirit with your infinite grace
May your wisdom guide my words, so that I may instruct and illumine with faith
May your mercy guide my mind, so that I may know the mysteries of the world and its bountiful treasures
May your justice guide my heart, so that I may be a champion of the truth in your steps
As all things are in order, so shall all things be done in your name.

05/12/0068

Lady Carim,

We humbly present to you the results of our research in ascertaining the current whereabouts of the Thirteen Forbidden Devices from the Fourth Warring Period of the Al Hazardian Empire. This section contains a brief summary of the Thirteen Devices, and a more detailed analysis may be found in the main body of the report.

We would like to thank the librarians of the Infinite Library for their assistance in completing this work, and commend them for their service and discretion.

A summary of the Forbidden Devices follows, in the order of their recorded discovery by the TSAB.

I. The Orb of the Peerless Mage
Perhaps the best-known and most-researched of the Forbidden Devices, the Orb of the Peerless Mage indirectly formed the early basis for the Gem Storage Devices used by the Midchilda arm of the Time-Space Administration Bureau mages. Analysis of combat-oriented gem-based Lost Logia from disparate sources indicates that the Orb was the inspiration for almost all of them, for its ability to light-shift a significant majority of its own mass via the Gresky-Paviroir Theorem, remaining in what is now known as "standby mode".

The Orb is indestructible by any means known to modern thaumotechnology, and it is likely exactly as it was on the day of its ancient manufacture. Records from extinct and extinguished civilizations have confirmed that the Orb has passed through a great many of them, largely in the form of a war trophy. To date, no records of the Orb activating has ever been found, and every attempt to stimulate such a response has been met with inert failure.

As of this writing, the Orb is kept under heavy security in the Time-Space Administration Bureau Main Interdimensional Headquarters facility. Permission to view and study it may be granted to representatives of educational, law-enforcement, and military institutions.

II. The Ring of the Jewelled Dusk
Our own history shows the perils of using the Ring of the Jewelled Dusk, which has been responsible for at least two major wars in the history of our holy Empire of Belka. The Ring is known to increase the user's Linker Core capacity for both power and output without limit or risk of burnout. Other than that, it does not appear to have any other function, but the one is enough to make it a tempting target for the power-hungry and evil.

The Ring is currently encased in a solid block of orihalcum three meters per side, and sealed underneath the grounds of our Glorious Cathedral of the Saint King.

III. The Dagger of the Obsidian Light
Records on the ownership of the Dagger of the Obsidian Light are inconsistent and unreliable at best. It is said to have changed hands among various groups of bandits and pirates over time, to whom it provided immense power, but which inevitably led to power struggles and wholesale internecine slaughter. Its last known location was in the hands of the infamous Dimensional Pirate Steel Leviathan, whose flagship, the Basilisk, was destroyed with all hands on board in MC 0012 by TSAB forces. The Dagger was not found in the debris, and it is assumed to be lost in the Dimensional Sea.

Little is known of the Dagger's abilities, but it appears to be able to greatly enhance the effects of any given spell, for the same amount of magical energy expended. In addition, it is able to penetrate any form of shielding, magical or physical, without difficulty, including its fellow Forbidden Device, the Bracers of the Clouded Earth, which had indeed been destroyed by the Dagger. Recovered journal entries from former owners have indicated that a side effect of use is an increase in mental instability, megalomania, and paranoia.

ADDENDUM: Recent discoveries have pinpointed the location of the Dagger of Obsidian Light to be here on Midchilda as recently as MC 0060. It, or a reasonable facsimile indistinguishable to the untrained observer, was involved in the Rote Fluegel Incident (TSAB Case File 0060-1241; see Appendix G), but has not been located and secured. Recommend immediate mobilization of all available forces to search for and recover the Dagger.

IV. The Helm of the Veiled Moon
The Helm of the Veiled Moon is one of the few Forbidden Devices known definitively to have been destroyed, along with the Bracers of the Clouded Earth and the Crown of the Timeless Lord. It had been aboard the Garden of Time in the Precia Testarossa Jewel Seed Incident (TSAB Case File 0065-0547; see Appendix D), and enough material to confirm its complete disintegration was found in the aftermath. A strong hypothesis is that the absolute Anti-Magic Fields present prior to the dimensional disturbance interfered with the Helm's natural integrity as a Forbidden Device.

Theoretically, the Helm at full power would be able to prevent any area up to a class M planet (under the Eizor scale) from being observed by any means of detection. It is also able to selectively include or exclude individual beings or locations in this cloaking field. This area of non-detection would last as long as magical energy is supplied to the Helm, the requirements of which were reportedly not inconsiderable. It is unknown why Precia Testarossa had not chosen to activate this Device.

V. The Sword of the Ardent Star
Of the Thirteen Devices, the Sword of the Ardent Star is seen as the most benevolent, or at least mostly wielded only by benevolent users. Its existence appears relegated almost entirely to the realm of myth and hearsay, but its presence in so many disparate stories indicates that there is a true Sword which is consistent with the tellings.

The Sword is capable of altering its own elemental affinity at will, and provides increased physical strength and durability to its user. Wielders have been said to defeat thousands of opponents single-handedly, without the Sword being at its full strength. To all forms of observation, it appears as nothing more than an unremarkable sword-like Device.

As of yet, no trace of the Sword has been reported in recent times.

VI. The Shield of the Sundered Dark
No record exists on the powers and abilities of the Shield of the Sundered Dark. By the time the TSAB was made aware of its existence and secured it, the Shield's energy had been completely depleted, rendering it inert. As a physical shield it is still indestructible to all modern methods of thaumotechnology, and it is made of an unknown but incredibly dense material.

The Shield is currently kept on display in the Time-Space Administration Bureau Midchilda Ground Forces Headquarters.

VII. The Bracers of the Clouded Earth
The Bracers of the Clouded Earth have been confirmed by all sources to have been destroyed by the Dagger of the Obsidian Light during the Fourth Warring Period of the Al Hazardian Empire. It appears to have been able to provide some sort of impregnable defense otherwise, but no other information on the Bracers has been found.

VIII. The Tome of the Night Sky
We have removed this section of the report at your personal request.

IX. The Staff of the Unconquered Sun
We have traced the path of this Forbidden Device through history to its final known location in the Armoury of the Saint King, where it was reported stolen some three hundred years ago. Its current whereabouts are unknown, but it is likely to be still extant.

The Staff of the Unconquered Sun is known to be tuned to elemental Fire, and has displayed great capabilities in altering its physical properties, as well as the ability to generate both an Anti-Magic Field and an Over-Magic Field at will. It does not appear to possess discrete "modes", but is able to utilize more or less of its user's Linker Core energy on a continuous scale. Like the Sword of the Ardent Star, it is unlikely that it will register as a Forbidden Device when it is using a lower-powered mode, but upon full release, its true nature will be obvious to any casual observation.

X. The Lance of the Watchful Guardian
The Lance of the Watchful Guardian has been presumed to be lost during the latter days of the Fourth Warring Period, sometime around the immense dimensional disturbance which occurred at the time. Its full capabilities are unknown, but it has been reported to be used most often in defensive emplacements and positions, where it is able to deflect the attacks of the threat the user deems the greatest.

XI. The Sigil of the Proud Heart
An odd example of a Device, the Sigil of the Proud Heart does not wholly exist on the physical realm, but assimilates vessels for itself based on an unknown criteria, whereupon the object will display a prominent sigil from whence the Device obtains its name.

It is seen to be the Forbidden Device with the weakest practical power but the greatest potential: it allows for conversion into magical, kinetic, or potential energy, from the willpower of the user, using an extremely efficient ratio. No Linker Core is required for this. A sufficiently strong-willed or motivated non-mage will be able to produce Over-S results. As its power is directly proportional to its user's willpower, however, and those with strong enough willpower are rare, it does not figure greatly in the legends of the Thirteen Forbidden Devices.

A copy of the Sigil's known dimensions is included in Appendix C.

XII. The Crown of the Timeless Lord
Perhaps the most dangerous of the Forbidden Devices, the Crown of the Timeless Lord was sundered in twain by the Sword of the Ardent Star during the War of the Five Planets. The self-styled Overking had been in possession of the Crown, while the wielder of the Sword is unknown. It is also unclear if the Overking had been wearing the Crown at the time of the sundering.

The Crown allowed any sentient being wearing it, regardless of the presence or power of their Linker Core, to dominate and enslave the mind of another sentient being. There is no known limit to the number of minds the user can mesmerize, but each mind must be attacked individually. Legends have spoken of strong-willed individuals able to resist the compulsion, but there is no scientifically rigorous means of determining this quality.

The surviving half of the Crown is on display in the Midchilda Museum of Cultural History in Cranagan City.

XIII. The Sands of the Eternal Myth
Every legend and historical record of the Sands of the Eternal Myth claim that it was not made by any human agency, but that it came into being spontaneously, at some point after the first twelve Forbidden Devices had been activated. Research into its nature has been extremely difficult, as every story and historical record concerning it have been conflicting and inconsistent. It is often described as a pouch containing a handful of fine sand; its use and power are largely unknown.

Several of the stories claim that the Sands are able to perform impossibilities, both theoretical and practical. Exactly what these impossibilities are is unknown, but there are hints at necromancy being one of them.

Despite the near-complete lack of information on the Sands, every story agrees that it is one of the Thirteen Forbidden Devices, which merits its inclusion in this report.


If your Holiness has any further inquiries, please do not hesitate to call upon our services once again.

I remain

Your most abject and obedient servant,
Dr. Gaus Du Holt (D.Thaum, D.Hist, M.Arc)

The Belka Institute of History, Natural Philosophy, and Thaumaturgy

[Keroko]

Well, I don't see any contradictions so far, and concidering these are Lost Logia, their powers are pretty much justified.

[Kha]

And smell like delicious endgame raid gear.

There's something vaguely familiar about that Sword... Maybe no one knows where it is because...

*glances in Saber's direction*

...no one can see it?

[Keroko]

That's what happens when you sprinkle your ideas with references rather then having them cry out.