Thank you for your purchase of a Chronaturge Brand Time Sceptre, we know there are a lot of options for your time-fuckery needs and are honoured to provide you with an easy and efficient time-manipulation service at a cost that's right for you... Don't worry, Rue. I'm not going to write this whole thing in corpospeak. I know you're not exactly a mage by trade so, as per your request, I've written this little document to help you not rip time itself several new ones while trying to take down Zaebos. I hope you appreciate it.
Right, so first thing's first, let me explain what I've actually given you. What you're holding in your hands is a significantly limited version of my own staff. I've placed a frankly huge number of iimitations on the sceptre for a number of reasons:
- To make it simpler to use, even for a non-mage like yourself.
- To keep it from attracting too much attention.
- To limit the damage it could do should you mess around with it or, god forbid, lose it.
- To block off some of its more dangerous features (sorry, kid. Still no spoilers).
Full disclosure, with enough time and magical knowhow, another mage could theoretically unlock the full staff, but I wouldn't recommend it. What you've got currently is the go-kart equivalent, whereas the full staff is like the space shuttle, in terms of raw power, complexity and potential damage. Just don't.
Now, onto the good stuff. Bet you're itching to know what that thing can do, aren't ya? Well calm yourself. We've gotta start with summoning the thing. While holding the sceptre, hold it upright and turn it in a counter-clockwise direction to dismiss it. It'll feel like it's becoming lighter before fading away and you can then just let it go and it'll vanish. To recall it, then place your hand, palm outwards, out in front of you and perform a clockwise rotation. Just make sure you're ready to grab the thing.
Alright, now for the good stuff. I've placed a number of spells into the staff that you should be able to perform fairly easily by using the actions and trigger phrases I've detailed below. Hope you like latin!
Impede
- Trigger words: Motus Tardus
- Actions: Aim the sceptre at the target or touch them with it.
- Effect: If hit with the effect, the target is slowed in their movement and reactions.
Facilitate
- Trigger words: Propero
- Actions: Aim the sceptre at the target or touch them with it.
- Effect: If hit with the effect, the target is hastened in their movement and reactions.
Recursion
- Trigger words: Iterum
- Actions: Aim the sceptre at the target or clasp it to yourself.
- Effect: A short-term rewind that can occasionally allow fate to play out differently. The sceptre will need a moment to recharge after though.
Terminate
- Trigger words: Prohibere
- Actions: Hit the ground with the sceptre (Not too hard. Don't break it.).
- Effect: Emanates a pulse of time magic that will attempt to freeze all enemies in the area for a short time.
Call
- Trigger words: Ego te voco, numerus (Number of summon. See below.)
- Actions: Once the trigger phrase is said, make a slashing motion in the air with the sceptre to open a portal.
- Effect: Calls forth a summoned creature or effect from across the timestream. Unfortunately due to the unstable nature of these summons, each of the creatures can only be called once and I can't guarantee how long they'll stick around for.
- Summons:
- Unus: Rex, my best boy, mildly-corrupted, vampire, T-rex extraordinaire. Just don't bring him to bear against Zaebos herself, she may manage to take control.
- Duo: A near-future version of the caster. You may have to go back later to actually take part in this one if you use it, and if it fails... Don't think too hard about it.
- Tres: A combat drone from the 22nd Century. Keep this one away from your friendly time-travellers. They may have some kind of PTSD flashback.
- Quattuor: A saber-tooth tiger named Rowena.
- Quinctus: A Megalania named Gary.
- Sex: A squad of elite shinobi of the Iga-ryū, equipped with all manner of tools and weapons to aid them in their missions.
- Septem: The dread-pirate Edward Teach AKA Blackbeard and the crew of the Queen Anne's Revenge, ready to cause chaos and strike fear into the hearts of anyone in their way.
- Octo: Nuclear Nancy of The Blazing Aces. She's always good to cause some sudden and severe damage to those in her way.
- Novem: Joan of Arc, the legendary, French warrior guided in her crusade by the angels themselves. It was said that her presence alone could turn the tide of a battle.
- Decem: A squad of ten roman soldiers from my personal pocket legion; the Legio IX Hispana.
- Undecim: The great sphynx of ancient Egypt. Big and imposing, with claws that can send its foes straight to Anubis.
- Duodecim: Orbital Cannon. For when you really, REALLY need something blasted.
Alright, now get out there and kick some demon ass. And don't break the sceptre. If you do, you'll be working it off until your bones turn to dust.
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