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GOREAN WEAPONS "
SHIELD
Gorean Warrior's Shield
(noun):
A circular shaped shield, generally about 24 to 36 inches in diameter,
the shield is sufficient in size to cover the areas where a fatal blow may be
struck, yet it may also be used as a covering in a Gorean sand storm. The shield
is made of several layers of bosk's hide (generally 7-9 layers thick) stretched
over a lightweight framework of wood or horn, and normally are round in shape.
The common shield is use is the warrior's shield. It is worn upon the user's
arm, usually the left one, and is carried slung across the back while in
traveling.
SWORDS
Gorean Short Sword :
The basic weapon of all
warriors of Gor, except those that fought while mounted and even they had
considerable skill in its usage. Approximately 20 inches in length from hilt tip
to blade tip, narrower at the hilt base and then widening to a width of 3 or 4
inches and descending to a curved and pointed tip. The grip is generally either
of polished wood or leather. This is the basic weapon of the warrior in Gor, it
is generally carried, in a sheath slung over the left shoulder by means of a leather harness, but may also be worn at
the hip. This sword is mentioned in all books relating to Gor, from
Book # 1 and throughout.
Longsword:
The longsword is commonly used by the denizens of
longsword. It is approximately 36 inches in length. It is carried in a
belt-scabbard or strapped across its user's back over his right shoulder. The
manufacture of these "longswords" seems to follow the pattern of the making of
the swords of the Japanese Samurai. In this method, many lengths of steel, both
hard and soft or flexible steel are beaten together under heat and folded within
itself and beaten flat again. This creates a blade with both a tremendous amount
of flexibility and also one that is virtually unbreakable. Most longswords bear
the name of their maker and as with ships and other things of Gor, many believe
that the sword possesses a sense of being with the maker.
Scimitar :
A long curved sword, the scimitar maybe used
either one-handed or with two-hands, The curved, single-edged blade is always honed to
razor-sharpness, The scimitar's blade length is approximately 30 inches. This
weapon when used one-handed from the back of a kailla is incredible deadly. When
it is used two-handed by a fighter while on the ground it is as deadly a weapon
as is found upon Gor.
BOLA
Bola:
The favored weapon of the Wagon People Warriors, who fight
mainly from the backs of the kailla. The bola consists of three (3) long leather
straps, each about 5 feet in length, and terminating in a leather sack which
contains, a heavy rounded metal weight. Developed for hunting fleet-footed and
flight game it is also used as a weapon of war. Thrown low the long straps,
with their approximate ten-foot sweep, strike the victim and the weighted balls,
as soon as resistance is met, whip about the victim's legs, tangling and
tightening the straps. Thrown high it can pin a man's arms to his sides; thrown
at the throat it can strangle him; thrown at the head of the whipping weights
can crush his skull. Once a victim is entangled with the bola, another weapon,
usually a quiva, is then utilized to dispatch the victim if he or she still
lives.
THROWING KNIVES
Quiva:
A balanced saddle knife, usually part of a
set of seven such weapons. It consists of a narrow double-edged blade of between
9 and 12 inches in length mounted on a shaped handle of wood, bone, or horn. It
is honed to razor sharpened, and its blade tapers to a needle point. Designed
for use primarily as a missile weapon, the quiva is also perfectly functional as
a hand weapon and general utility knife. It is mostly used by the nomadic Wagon
Peoples of the southern hemisphere, who will carry matched sets of seven in
special sheaths attached to their kailla saddles. Generally the steel used in
making the blades of the quiva comes from the foundries within the City of Ar
and are carried by traders to the South and thus traded to the Wagon People's.
This weapon is so ingrained within the very hearts and souls of the Wagon People,
it is a part of the traditional Tuchuk greeting and farewell.
SPEARS
Gorean War Spear:
A heavy,
yet easily thrown spear favored by the Caste of Warriors, it is armed with a
bronze blade for a tip that is approximately 12 inches in length. While much
heavier than the "black lance", the War Spear can also be thrown with considerable force over a fair distance. This may be due to the gravitational differences between the Earth and Gorean atmospheres.
Wagon People's Kailla Lance:
A long slender
spear, eight to ten feet long, designed to be used from the saddle of a rider on
kailla back. These lances are not used couched, but rather carried in the right fist, easily, and are flexible and light. The "Black Lance" is made from young
tem trees, the design is that of a slender, flexible, and light weight weapon
that can be bent nearly double without breaking. The lance is designed to be
used for thrusting, swift and delicate in striking as a saber. A loose loop of
bosk's hide bound to the lance and wrapped twice around the bearer's hand helps
the bearer retain his grip in hand to hand combat. The lance is seldom thrown.
The lance is carried across the back of the owner when not needed.
Harpoon:
A slender javelin-type spear, fitted
with a barbed head and used with a line attached to assist in retrieval. This
weapon is described in book # 10 and book # 12.
Trident:
The three-pronged spearing fork used by
fishermen and sailors of the island peoples of Gor. The trident can be utilized
both as a thrusting weapon and as a weapon to be thrown. It is described as
being approximately seven feet in overall length, with 3 rather lengthy prongs.
Often used with a line attached, for retrieval should it be thrown. This weapon
is described in book # 6, Raiders of Gor.
KNIVES
Quiva:
Also known as the Tuchuk Saddle Knife, the quiva is a dagger favored by the
Wagon People, especially the Tuchuks, but carried by most Free Women and many
Warriors. Designed for both stabbing and balanced to be thrown with lighting
speed and accuracy. Generally carried in the quanity of seven in number,
sheathed and hung on the handed side of a warrior's saddle, be it tarn or
kailla.
Sleen Knife:
This is a broad bladed, flat, double edged
utility knife equipped with a stubby crossguard and unadorned grip.
Described by a Tree Maker in his bio as the weapon he was ordered to fight with
when he was forced to do battle with a sleen in the pit.
AXES
Torvaldsland Battle Axe:
This weapon is described
as a single-bladed axe of hardened iron, with a blade of anywhere from 2 to 3
times the width of a man's hand in width. The head of
the axe is mounted on a thick wooden handle.
BOWS AND PROJECTILES
Great Bow of the Peasants:
The Great Bow was generally made from the wood of the
ka-la-na tree or sometimes of tem wood, this bow is over six (6) feet in length
and requires great strength in order to pull it fully. The string of such a bow
is usually made of hemp line or animal sinew wound about with silk thread. The
arrows of such a bow are generally made of tem wood, steel tipped and feathered
by the feathers of the vosk gull. Each such arrow is approximately three (3)
feet in length. It is commonly carried slung or strapped over the shoulder when
not in use, as in the quiver containing numerous shafts (40 or more). The
Great Bow is a difficult weapon to use well. It is commonly called the Weapon of
The Peasants because of the common use of it. It is also used by the
Rencers of the Vosk Delta, as mentioned in book # 6, "Raiders of Gor".
Crossbow:
The standard infantry weapon of Gor,
for distance in fighting. It consists of a heavy, flexible bow of tempered
steel, perhaps 18 inches across (when bent), mounted on a heavy wooden stock
about two (2) feet long, with a trigger mechanism built into the shaped handle.
Quarrels, or "bolts", are carried by the user in a belt-case or quiver.
Tarnsmen's Crossbow:
Similar in most respects to
the larger crossbow, though instead of possessing a heavy metal bow, it has a
much lighter bow of layered wood and horn. It is slightly smaller in overall
size than its heavy cousin, and is equipped with a metal stirrup at the firing
end, enabling it to be more quickly restrung and drawn from kailla or tarn
back.
Horn Bow:
A weapon favored by the Wagon People,
it is small, double curved and about 4 feet in length. This is a bow made of
layers of a bosk's horn that has been split and cured. It is banded and
reinforced with leather from hide of the bosk; it is banded with metal of 1/2
inch width at 7 points, including the grip.The horn bow is a rather stubby bow,
but due to the many layers of split, cured and shaven bosk horn that is bound
together with glues and strips of metal and of bosk hide, it is an extremely
powerful and accurate weapon. Arrows are generally carried in the number of 40
to 50 and they are carried in a lacquered, narrow, rectangle shaped quiver, made
from bosk hide cured and dried over a frame work of light wood or split
horns.
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sweet angel
