[16th May 2008]

[Curragh Camp, County Kildare]

Armour, I loved armour as it stopped things that might kill me from actually killing me. One of the big issues of course with being a wizard, and one of my background more importantly, was that one kinda needed to make gestures and have relative ease of movement. So far I'd been making due with minor enchantments to what clothing I could get in the shops or gear provided to by my trainers, but it was one of those things that I'd, well we'd, been working on since I'd started.

There'd be little use of me abilities after all if I took a bullet to the chest before I'd raised a protection against missiles or other magical barrier. I know my part-time...ahem* teacher * John Constantine doesn't, nor does Mr. Brendan Finn, but John has the most unbalanced Luck rating ever, while Brendan Finn's an idiot who traded his soul for wine. So I'm opting for the rather more conventional booster of my Armour Class, plus place to carry my various tools in a fight. Plus it was another layer of disguise that I could adopt to keep my true identity hidden suppose.

So far I'd been relying on illusion, or polymorph, to maintain the appearance of 'John Fortune' rather than Sean O'Neill; but while John hadn't seen through it entirely he had grasped that this wasn't my actual 'true' form. Considering that I was planning, after discussing with my handlers in G2, that the best approach was a polymorphed form under the armour, and then have an illusion over that when I'm on the job; John Fortune being a sub-layer beneath the disguise. Something I'm all for as the official paper and records would indicate that...in theory at least. Either that or polymorph over the armour into a disguise; it was hard to decide which was most efficient. So that's what I was aiming for as I sat at the table fiddling with the current pieces created and the designs for the next lot.

"Not very heroic seemin' I'll say Wizard" Sergeant Macklin told me with some amusement as he and the other two reviewed the gear laid out on the table. I really needed to get training on how to actually making my own but for the moment modding standard gear, and a few requested additions, was the superior option. Across from them the currently on-site danger, John Constantine, sat reading the paper and ignoring everyone for the moment. At least he'd done as asked and returned for the five days along with enduring the 'testing' session of earlier today. He should be happy as I healed both of us up afterwards!

I sat back into the chair and glanced over my trainer. Amusingly he, like myself, was using a 'not my real name' name here. Well it amused me anyway as I replied "Yeah, well, I ain't planning on trusting a layer of colourful spandex to keep me safe from bullets...and truth be told its easier to induce certain feelings on an enemy with some spells if you look the part"

That and the fact I'm said squishy wizard and I'd much prefer my enemies be afraid of me, or least hesitate, in any fight. Batman had the right of it in that regards as his whole suit emphasised stealth in darkness and inducing fear in foes. So when I went for armour I went for full body coverage, including my face and head, so I'd wracked my brain for what appealed to me for battle-gear. This me wouldn't be leading armies I expected so some of more Shargass the Night Lord aspects had been considered, fear and terror were useful weapons when illusions had failed. Many superheroes I think wore bright colourful gear to attract attention and raise hopes...but most of them were way more durable than your average mage so dark it would be.

In the end it had been good old Corvo and his gear from Dishonoured that had surfaced as the dominant string of thought in the design. Perhaps some supervillians choice from memory had crept in, or that Death Knight I'd fought all those years ago in another place and time, albeit without the heavy plate armour. In the end I'd opted for light flexible armour with a skull mask that would stop bullets. And more importantly allow me to engrave various spell-works into them like Fear based spells for instance alongside trying to make me harder to see in darkness. Of course I'd have to wear an illusion over it on mission but in a perfect world I'd near have to wear the blasted thing at all.

"Wha' he' meant I'd reckon..." came from a newspaper reading man whose feet were propped lazily on a chair before him "...is that'ya look like a bleedin' supervillian, or some corpse someone pulled outta its grave and threw fuckin' goths clothes on. What are tryin' ta do? Give some poor old granny a heart attack so you get to play dress up? Goin' through a phase are we lad?"

Despite the chuckle of the others at my expense I gave an irritated snort as I replied "Well unlike some wizards around here I'd much rather not run around and let everyone know who I am. Or get the shite beat out of me because I didn't have any body armour on. I don't my epitaph to be 'Master of Magic, Wielder of Arcane Might – Killed by druggy with switchblade because he was too feckin lazy to wear bloody armour'. Plus I'd like dudes to surrender and they're less likely to try screwing me over like this than if I turned up as meself in a bright pink cape I figure"

In truth it'd be a year or more at best before the suit was up to the standard I'd be happy with I expected. This was a prototype, or maybe just a starting point, from using my magical crafting in line with modern manufacturing tools. Quite simple they put most masterwork class items to shame from my orcish time but they were either limited from certain materials, or used one I would have had on then. Kevlar for instance, or things such as guns, and this was taking time to relearn...or adjust...my spell-work to them. So this was going to be a process of gradual creation of armour, shield and blades to go alongside the firearms.

In a few years I might be confident enough to fight as my actual self but right now that seemed a stupid, maybe suicidal, idea at the very best and at worst needlessly endangered others around me. John Constantine being a prime example of all the dangers of such; while I needed him here to help me...I also was looking forward to getting back on the ferry as soon as possible. So staying hidden in terms of identity was important but in the line of the work I may have to work in a level of intimidation would be required. In the end utilising Fear and Terror seemed a better idea than having to kill someone resisting or threatening others. Surviving in this reality meant alot of bloody hard work ahead.

"Heh, you might survive a little while yet with that attitude. Just remember when its demons ta shoot first an' ask questions later cuz that get'up won't scare them much at all"

I shrug "Eh, that's what the blessed switchblade and bullets are going to be fer I hope, though really?...as if you and yer mates are ones to talk about such things!"

The reports on him...didn't do justice to the madness around him, or that he created quite frankly. Still him, and that idiot Mr. Finn, were the only two 'consultants' the government could find for my 'education' and, more importantly to them, keep them under watch while here and give some hint of the dangers out there. It almost made want to sigh at my lives as I slipped back into 'better the devil you know' territory yet again. One of the few bright spots from the whole thing, other than a guide on where to start, was a pretty detailed covering of the magical 'community' within the United Kingdom, and lesser extent here in Ireland, and the issues therein.

I expect soon enough there'd be a database being established on these various people and where they stood on legality as I was pretty sure one was involved in petty crime based on what'd been detailed. Law and Order: Magical Edition was probably going to end up coming down the legislation pipeline in the next few years as more was learned. And they had someone capable of enforcing said rules upon such people; which was really using me as the starting point to even begin training anyone. Or having prisons capable of holding said people; there was some place in the United States called Belle Reve, or something like that, and even there didn't seem to have magical protections.

He shrugs glancing back at the paper and smoking his cigarette "Eh, just offerin' advice to my supposed 'apprentice' let's say, all from the sage wisdom of experience I might add"

I nodded. In truth it was sage advice and he did certainly have tons of experience on the matter. Still I'd spent long enough working on the armour and it once again time to make use of my temporally allowed in the country instructor "On that note, aren't you gonna teach me any more of that sage wisdom today..."