Afternoon afternoon! Afternoon? Yes Afternoon, I’ve been busy with stuff this morning but here I am with another prompt! Hopefully not too late at least.
Weapons How does the native population defend themselves in their world when things start to get really hairy? Do they resort to the sword,...
I'll go over the weaponry of the three main military groups in the Redwoods:
The Watch: Although not all of its members are thoroughly trained in weaponry, all members of the Watch are still given weapons to use regardless of whether or not their roles involve combat or no. The most commonly used weapon is the spear and the axe, with the spear being the most commonly used due to its efficiency and the fact that as a mouse, one would want to keep their distance from the many dangers of the woods. Axes are for the braver sort, although they're more useful outside of combat as well, as a versatile tool. On top of those two fairly popular weapons, a good number of the Watch are very proficient in the use of bows, and it is more often than not that spearmice know how to use a bow, or vice-versa. Those are the favorite weapons of the Watch: efficient, useful and smart. The Watch isn't meant to fight in a full scale war or a sustained fight. The Watch is meant to help guide and protect creatures from point A to point B, and be able to handle hostiles safely and quickly, else they increase the risk of losing creatures.
The Sentinels: The Sentinels are much more thoroughly trained, prepared and armed for combat than the Watch are. The Sentinels are all given hand to hand combat training and all know how to handle a sword, spear, halberd and axe. Wardens and officers are normally outfitted with a finely crafted steel sword, which is a sign of prestiege amongst the Sentinels, for they value close combat and find it honorable, even against larger foes. Combat is their duty, first and foremost. Iron and steel swords are the more common weapon for the run-of-the-mill Sentinel, as it is the standard weapon they are issued. Sentinels are also issued heavy blue brigandines, iron helms, and wooden tower shields. It is fairly common for the Sentinel scouts to just wear the brigandine, some eschewing the standard outfit altogether for just a padded cloth vest and light clothing. However, that is only for routine scouting and usually when combat is expected, the Sentinels always wear their wargear and weapons. An excellent broadsword is crafted for the Prince or Princess of Vacce whenever he/she is appointed.
The Crimson Guard: The Crimson Guard are just as fit and competent as the Sentinels, if not better at certain periods of time. The guard is equipped with steel swords with glittering pommels and handles; long elegant spears (some of silver) tipped with steel. Leomas is wealthy enough to afford weapons that need a lot of metal, so swords aren't so out of place as it is in other places. Brigandines are a common armament, as are full metal cuirasses and breastplates. Full plate armor is... not so easy to be worn by a mouse, and it is almost always only made as decoration (it is rarely worn). Iron and steel weapons of all kinds are made in Leomas, and is a producer of fine weaponry just as Vacce is (although you'll be hard pressed to find a mouse from either of the two settlements agree on who has the better smithies).
