Rules Update: Mage Promotional Skill

The Mage Promotional Skill "Familiar" has been replaced with the following:

Counterspell / 3 Build / Per Event
The mage can unravel any lower-list arcane energies as an enemy magic user is gathering, such as Mage spells, Wild Mage spells (but not surges), and Ballads.  The mage may target the caster of the arcane effect, or its target, within 5 seconds of the spell being cast - the Counterspell automatically hits, provided it is within range (the distance the caster can throw a spell packet).  The arcane effect fails, and all MP, SSP, or Battle-Casting Skills being used to cast the spell are considered expended.  Counterspell can only be prevented by the Bard Promotional Skill "Unbreakable Voice" (You cannot Counterspell a Counterspell).

Now thats sweet.

Any mage who has access to this ability and the build to buy it for this event that would like it needs to contact me by monday night and I will let you learn this skill before the event since it doesn't require a teacher.

Can you counterspell spells invoked from magic items?

If it's a Mage Spell, yes.  It's still the same effect, just coming from a different source.

Are we allowed to throw our stuffed animal familiars at the target of a counterspell as a form of catharsis?