The Hand Caster

The ability to use magic in times of war makes the mage invaluable to the nation they serve. However, some places do not have the luxury of having many practitioners. As such these magi are moved to the back, far from combat. From there they load their magic onto crystals to be used in Casters.
However, a new development has arisen. The invention of the light weight "Hand Caster" allows for a single Casteer with a satchel of Mana Shards to maneuver a battlefield and still make use of the Caster. By loading the crystal into the top of this miniature Caster, the user then holds the weapon upon their shoulder and presses on a lever at the top, behind the crystal. By pressing this, the lever activates the magic seal holding the spell in place, the spell is then expelled from the crystal and shot through the muzzle at their intended target. Much like the larger Casters, speed accelerating enchantments are etched onto the interior of the muzzle. Modern Musket designs allow for the crystal to be loaded through the side and a trigger replaces the lever, with this change, the weapon is now held pressed against the shoulder as opposed to resting on top. This simple design change allowed for far more accurate shots and a faster reload time.
By loading the crystal into the top of this miniature Caster, the user then holds the weapon upon their shoulder and presses on a lever at the top, behind the crystal. By pressing this, the spell is expelled from the crystal and the magic shot through the muzzle at their intended target. Much like the larger Casters, speed excellerating enchantments are etched onto the interior of the muzzle.
These smaller crystals only contain a single spell, as such the user of the Hand Caster holds a satchel with two pockets. One pocket is stuffed with loaded crystals, while the other holds the expended ones.

• Long-Shot, a modified version of the Musket, utilizing a series of magnifying glasses to see distant targets, the Long-Shot is capable of reaching targets nearly 300 feet away. However, this weapon type requires the use of two Mana Shards that are expended after a single shot.

• The Pistol variant allows for a smaller and more manageable weapon but sacrifices its damage output for maneuverability and ease of concealment. The Pistol is an excellent choice of weapon for early practitioners of Casters and continues to be a viable option for Casteer veterans.

The eventual development of Black Powder Cannons follow a similar evolution to Hand Cannons. Again, while extremely rare, are more effective at dealing damage to a target.

History

Thanks to the development of the Caster and demand for a light weight version, the Hand Caster was quickly made and uses a very simple design. Over time, more ornate versions have been made.

Item type

Weapon, Ranged

Used by

• The Caster

Rarity

The Hand Caster is more of an uncommon weapon. While most people prefer the utility and traditional Bow and Arrow, Hand Casters have grown in popularity by the wealthy.