User blog:GunjiBunny/The Expert at the Card Table/ George Stephenson's Geordie Lamp

WIP

Origin
The Expert at the Card Table is a book dealing with sleight of hand, cheating and illusions used while playing cards. Basically considered the Bible of the magic community the true identity of it's original author, S. W. Erdnase, continues to elude many. The contents of the book was considered obscene material at the time of publication but that didn't prevent the work from getting out there in the world. The book detailed everything from shuffling multiple decks, card cutting techniques, bottom of deck dealing and countless other techniques.

Effects
Possessor of book becomes a master at slight of hand card tricks. When removed from possession user can only count out loud for two days. An example of this would be instead of thinking one plus one equals two the equation becomes muddles in the mind unless spoken.

Side Note
Agents are looking into a different artifact that kept Erdnase's true identity a secret all these years.

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Origin
George Stephenson (1791 - 1848) was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public inter-city railway line in the world to use steam locomotives. In 1815, it was well known that explosions in mines were caused mostly by the naked flames of torches used to light the way. Stephenson began to experiment with a safety lamp that would burn in that sort of atmosphere without causing an explosion. Even though at this time Stephenson wasn't learned with scientific knowledge a series of trial and error attempts helped him create the Geordie Lamp. The Geordie Lamp allowed air to enter via tiny holes, through which the flames of the lamp couldn't pass. However because he wasn't known in the scientific community the Geordie Lamp was turned down in favor of an eminent scientist's Devy Lamp, by Humphrey Davy. However when it came time to test the two lamps side by side the Devy Lamp glowed red risking explosion when a strong influx of gas entered the testing area. The Geordie Lamps simply went out. Those in the area applauded however another burst caused the Devy lamp to explode, Stephenson's pride and belief that his lamp was safer transferred into the lamp so instead of the explosion killing everyone the lamp absorbed it saving the lives of everyone present.

Effects
Absorbs the force of explosions