Weaponry in Viridia and the Eastern Kingdoms has been honed and developed over a period of more than two-thousand years, resulting in a variety of weapon both close and long range. Bladed weapons, blunt weapons, spears, bows, crossbows, and all sorts of other weapons are common throughout the world among various sects, though some are more exclusive than others.
The introduction of weaponry made from both volcanic glass and moonsteel has resulted in weapons that are both stout and incredibly light.
The Longsword, also broadsword, bastard sword, hand-and-a-half sword
The most common weapon used throughout the world is the longsword, characterized by a blade of roughly 90 to 110 centimeters (35 to 43 inches), a weight of roughly 1.1 to 1.8 kilograms (2.4 to 4 pounds), and a hilt long enough to be wielded with two hands, though balanced well enough to be wielded one-handed. The ability to use one or two hands has inspired the terms bastard and hand-and-a-half sword. Though there are limitless variations the typical model features a relatively thin blade with a basic t-shaped crossguard to protect the hands. The broadsword is a variety of the longsword developed since the advent of knighthood, the broad blade designed with the specific purpose of penetrating armor. The versatility of the longsword has made it a favorite weapon of everyone from the common soldier to the most celebrated knights.
The Shortsword, also arming sword, cut-and-thrust sword
The shortsword is a blade specifically designed for use with one-hand, the key element differentiating it from the longsword being the hilt size. Typically a shortsword has a blade of 69 to 81 centimeters (27 to 32 inches), a weight of roughly 1.1 kilograms (2.4 pounds), with a t-shaped crossguard or occasionally a basket hilt. It is designed for speed rather than brute force, for redirecting blows rather than blocking them, and in the hands of a skilled user is every bit as deadly as its larger cousins. It is commonly used as backup when space is limited or the combatant does not have access to a longsword, or as an off-hand weapon, as a non-dominant hand can rarely control the length of a full-sized sword. Shortswords have been known to be used as a primary weapon, particular among the virtuosi duelists of Clyros and those who have studied their refined form of swordsmanship.Â
The Greatsword, also two-handed sword, claymore
The Greatsword is the common name for a true two-handed sword, a blade whose length cannot be controlled with anything less than two-hands, unless by a man of exceptional stature. A greatsword is defined by a blade as long as 180 centimeters (5.9 feet), and a weight of over 2 to 4 kilograms (4.4 to 8.8 pounds), typically with a t-shaped crossguard. Some greatswords have been known to implement and unsharpened area towards the bottom of the blade with a secondary crossguard, used for shortening the blade in a technique called half-swording. The advent of volcanic glass and steel weaponry has made greatswords of previously impossible stoutness and length possible, and practical in combat. Greatswords are typically used only by knights of a specific height and stature on the battlefield, though their ceremonial uses are known to be more varied.
The dagger is a short blade that is defined simply by being smaller than a shortsword, though most daggers are 40 centimeters (15.7 inches) or under. The most common variety is the crossguard dagger used as a tertiary weapon, or off-hand weapon, by knights and men-at-arms, although countless other varieties exist throughout the known world. Its small size and unparalleled versatility make the dagger the most common weapon among non-battlefield combatants; it is used heavily in both crime and self-defense.
The Spear, also pike, throwing spear
The spear is a favored weapon among both cavalry and infantry, utilized for its ability to inflict serious damage while keeping attacked at a distance. A spear can be anywhere from 1.8 to 4.6 meters (6 to 15 feet), including blade and haft, and can feature a nearly limitless variety of blade types, as well as purposes. The most common type of spear is the pike, the favored weapon of light infantry. Pike formations are the go to arrangement for infantry. Cavalry spears are typically shorter to prevent losing them after stabbing enemies, and typically have a longer blade for piercing armor. The wide-leaf speared favored by the Errosi dragonslayers has a haft of 1.8 meters (6 feet) and a blade of 61 centimeters (2 feet), in order pierce dragonscale and keep the beasts claws at a distance. The shortest spears are the throwing spears used by the Natali, with equal lengths of both haft and blade.
The Sabre, also scimitar, khopesh, arakh
The sabre is a curved blade of varying lengths and style designed specifically for use by advanced cavalry units. Initially fairly thin, the saber has widened since the advent of plate armor in order to be more effective against knights and other armored foes. Varieties include the Argosi Kopesh, developed as a hybrid between an axe and sword and used by the Argosi cavalry, and the Natali arakh, a sword closely resembling a scythe, likely designed after Dalish farming tools, with incredible reach and slashing power. The sabre has largely been replaced by the spear in most cavalry units, due to the considerable difficulty of hacking through armor, but is still used in some regions.
The Bow, also longbow, shortbow, recurve bow, crossbow
The bow is the most common form of long-range weaponry in the known world, and due to its effectiveness, is also the most unchanged. The main types of bow, the longbow and shortbow, existed prior to the colonization of Natal, and the only change in bow technology has been the creation of the recurve bow by the Natali, and the crossbow. The standard longbow is a straight wooden rod with a tense string tied to both ends, capable of generating incredible force, but requiring significant strength to use. It is favored by archers firing on an approaching force from superior position. The shortbow is less powerful bow developed for use in closer quarters; though still a long-range weapon the short bow is employed mostly by archers on the battlefield, as well as in archery competitions. The Natali recurve bow is the pinnacle of bow technology; it stars as a simple wooden rod, but the wood is treated so that the tips of the rod bend away from the archer. The result is a compact bow with the power of the longbow and maneuverability of the shortbow, and is incredibly effective when fired from horesback. The crossbow is a fairly recent design created using a high-tension pulley system; the result is a bolt which travels significantly faster, and with more force, than a typical arrow, making it excellent for armored targets... unfortunately a crossbow must be rewound after each shot, reducing its effectiveness on the battlefield.
The Polearm, also halberd, glaive, naginata
The polearm is a bladed weapon combining the premise of an axe and spear, attached to the end of a long wooden haft. It’s length and versatility have made it a favorite among light infantry for use against cavalry units. The most common type of of polearm is the halberd, a haft with an axe blade topped with a spike, with a hook on the opposite side of the axe blade for pulling mounted opponents off their horses. The glaive used by the Magisterial Guard in Clyros consists of a long haft with a wide, curved blade at the top. The Errosi naginata is similar, though The polearm is a weapon favored among peasant infantry units, often adapted from various farming implements owned by conscripted soldiers. Polearms of better quality are often used for ceremonial purposes as well as in real combat.
The Mace, also flail, morning star
The mace is a type of blunt weapon, one or two-handed, characterized by a haft of steel or wood, and a round or flanged head used for bashing. It is highly effective against plate armor and significantly cheaper than a sword, therefore it has become a common weapon for infantry facing knights. The morning star variant is characterized by a spiked head, while the flail is characterized by a chain separating the haft and head, increasing the striking distance, though decreasing the defensibility. The mace is regarded by skilled warriors as a barbaric and unrefined weapon, but it is still highly effective on the battlefield.
The Adapted Weapons, also axe, scythe, hammer
Prior the formation of professional military forces, the most common man on the battlefield was a conscripted soldier; he provided his own weapons and armor, though rarely had the latter, which resulted in the refinement of many farming tools as weapons. The axe is the most common, as it has a variety of uses outside of battle, and it still deadly as a weapon. The axe has been refined in the battle-axe, a one or two-handed axe designed specifically for combat. Scythes are very common weapon among farmers, their sharp curved blades as effective on unarmored opponents as they are on stalks of grain. The hammer was a weapon commonly brought to battle by smiths, and its effectiveness at breaking through armor inspired the creation of the warhammer, a much larger hammer with a spiked end specifically made for battle.Â
