Arms of Hyperborea

[Cthulhu Colin]

Rather than simply spring a finished article on everyone, I thought folks might appreciate me posting this as I develop it. It's intended to give a bit more cultural flavour to Hyperborean characters, especially in terms of what sorts of weapons and armours they are likely to begin play with. Of course, after play begins, what they bear will likely become a mish-mash of items, but it's also useful to know what you might encounter when you enter the realms of various cultures.

ARMS OF HYPERBOREA
The varied cultures of Hyperborea strongly favor certain arms. Local smiths craft certain weapons and types of armor above others, and the cultures themselves enforce such manufacture and use by their approach to war and defense. Of course, all being human, they can and will use whatever they come across in their ventures beyond their realms, but for the most part, the arms presented below are what one might expect to encounter in the hands of a given Amazon, Viking, or other, especially one just left the secure confines of their native home.

[Cthulhu Colin]

KELTIC ARMS
Keltic warriors invest much more in their weapons than their armor; indeed, it is not unknown for Kelts to enter battle skyclad, protected only by a shield, especially those prone to ríastrad (battle frenzy) akin to the Viking berserkers.

Melee Weapons
Daggers with leaf-shaped blades and anthropoidal hilts are found everywhere in Keltic society, and the truly poor bring stout, carved wooden clubs to bear, but the short spear, with a leaf-shaped spearhead, is found in the hands of every Keltic warrior. Kelts have even been known to catch spears thrown at them by their foes, only to turn them around and cast them back at their enemies.

Nearly as frequent as the spear is the Keltic longsword with its long, narrow, double-edged blade, and anthropoidal hilt. A handful of warriors wield the Kelt-Iberian falcata instead, but it is very far from common.

Uncommon Keltic arms include a narrow-bladed hand axe, and a mace with a wooden shaft and simple flanged or studded iron striking head.

Following a history of skirmishes with Kimmerian horsemen, the Keltic tribes also developed the spiked staff, a cheap and effective anti-cavalry weapon.

Ranged Weapons
Aside from a spear and sword, nearly every Keltic warrior is wont to bear two or three javelins for use at range, these resembling nothing so much as short, light spears.

Those unable to bear the cost of such weapons have been known to use handstones, fist-sized stones kept in the hollow of the shield until they can be retrieved and throw when opportune, though more make effective use of slings, staff-slings, and short bows.

Armor
Keltic warriors bear shields in preference to any other armors. Keltic infantry shields are elongated wooden ovals or hexagons reinforced with a horizontal wooden spine, and faced with decorated leather or felt. Those wielded by the skilled Keltic cavalry are round instead, and fronted with a metal boss.

After the shield, the Keltic helmet is favored, a deep steel bowl with a narrow brim, neckguard, and broad hinged cheekguards. Unlike the Vikings, a few wealthier Kelts are known to purchase helmets with ornamental horns, feathered wings, horsehair plumes, and crests featuring the war symbol of a spoked chariot wheel.

Only the most well-to-do Kelts wear armor, inevitably a chainmail byrnie reinforced with an extra layer of mail over the shoulders and across the top of the back.

[Cthulhu Colin]

VIKING ARMS
Despite their reputation for barbarity, Viking smiths craft fine steel weapons and armor, pattern-welding swords and knives and forging great axes and spears, creating a range of edged weaponry beloved of the local warriors. Viking warriors often give their weapons names such as “Foe-Biter”.

Melee Weapons
No Viking, male or female, young or old, is ever without a utilitarian guardless dagger, some single-edged, some double-edged.
A simple short spear with a leaf-shaped blade is the most common weapon among Vikings after the dagger. The greatest warriors are said to be able to throw two at once.

The sword is the most prestigious Viking weapon, a double-edged, straight-bladed slashing longsword with a short grip, broad pommel, and simple crossguard. A weapon of the wealthier warrior, the sword is often attributed mystical significance based on the pattern-welding it displays.

Less ubiquitous than the spear, and less beloved than the sword, the axe is nonetheless a popular Viking weapon. A hand axe with a slightly-curved axehead ideal for throwing is not unusual to find thrust through a warrior’s belt. The most common waraxe is the bearded axe, so named because of the downward hook of its blade, and is produced as battle axes and longer-handled great axes. Massive in size with a broad, cleaving axehead, the pale axe is a powerful great axe, but rarer than the bearded axe.

A very rare weapon, the hewing spear (atgeir) is a 6’ long wooden shaft with a long, narrow cutting and thrusting blade attached, somewhat like a narrow, thrusting bardiche, and is the only pole arm of Viking design.

Ranged Weapons
Although they far prefer melee combat, or to hurl a good spear, Viking warriors are not averse to missile weapons, and when needed or when hunting, they often use a simple short bow made from yew or a sling.

Armor
Even the poorest Viking warrior invests in a sturdy shield and helmet, and those with greater means purchase chain mail also; Viking warriors prefer the protection of a well-made chainmail hauberk or byrnie, when they can afford it, though berserkers are known to eschew these in favor of animal skins.

The standard Viking shield is a large, circular shield of wood covered in decorated fabric or leather with a reinforced rim.

A Viking helmet is a simple steel dome, sometimes with the addition of a protective nasal or visor around the eyes. A rare few also sport a mail veil.

[mabon5127]

I heartily approve of both thus far. I can't wait to see what you do with the hyperborean and atlantean cultures. I really appreciate your efforts in fleshing these out!

Morgan

[jasonzavoda]

This is an extremely useful series of posts. While I see Hyperborea as a mix of the ancient, the horrific, the utterly fantastic, I don't see it as medieval or post-medieval and I can't picture a culture that would have developed full plate armor, at least for my campaign. I also like the idea that the cultures tend to be as insular as possible and have kept costume, weapons and armor as distinct as possible.

[Deleted]

I, too, find them very useful. Have an exalt.

[Ghul]

Very useful, indeed.

It is a tricky subject; one in which some of us can appreciate the verisimilitude of cultural representation in a far-flung fantasy realm, but then there are always players (I can imagine some among my own player group) who just want to know which sword does the most damage, or which is the lightest weapon class (an AS&SH mechanic that is looked at most closely when players want their character to wield two weapons at once).

During the development of the game, I started off with a very 0e-ish simple arms list, but then as I began to flesh out the races that populate Hyperborea, I took it a completely different direction and came up with a list that was very granular, very specific. The present list of arms in the game is a sort of compromise, tending toward a more detailed list, but generic enough that it is open to interpretation.

I think Colin is onto something very interesting, but also I think Jason raises an interesting point regarding the possible insular nature of some cultures. Still, we must remember that the cultures represented have been on Hyperborea for at least a few thousand years, and that they have survived the Green Death. In the thousand year aftermath of the Green Death, what changes or modifications in arms technology may transpired is largely up to the imagination of the referee (perhaps with the help of his players).

I'm looking forward to reading more, Colin. (And I'll email you soon about some of my specific thoughts!)

Cheers,
Jeff T.

[Cthulhu Colin]

The approach I'm taking is that some developments have occurred, but these have mostly been in terms of materials more than styles. I'm having the cultures largely distinct and individualistic at their cores with particular ways of waging war, and this continues to influence their preferences and use of weapons. The Amazons, for instance, will employ psiloi (light infantry and skirmishers) alongside hoplites who operate in phalanx with longspear, short sword, and large shield. However, their muscle-style cuirass is no longer bronze, but steel, as is the thin facing of the wooden aspis shield. Those wanting lighter armour go for linothorax (which has proven surprisingly effective, and is treated as leather). That doesn't mean they will be completely and strictly historic, however, but they will be 99% recognizable.

Plate armour (in-keeping with the rules and background, oddly) will be extremely rare, but has been developed by the culture most likely to do so: the Kimmerians. Like the Sarmatians, Scythians, and Parthians, they'd already made extensive use of sophisticated lamellar and banded mail alongside chainmail. If anyone was going to develop plate, it'd be them.



Similarly, the Kimmerians are also the culture that would have developed more weapons we associate with mounted knights (though in truth, they already used many such weapons already).

In areas where cultures border each other, there's more intermingling of ideas (and everything else), and in the great melting pot cities you'll find all manner of developments. However, before you can mingle on the fringes you need a good idea of what each culture is like, giving the GM a foundation to work from. Besides, dealing with every case where X village uses a mixture of Y and Z would be insane.

Ultimately, if the cultures and approaches weren't distinct (while also being somewhat accessible due to familiarity), even bothering with them would be largely pointless. I feel that the recognizable cultures is a strong point for the game: if someone wants to play a Viking, they can play a Viking, likewise a Kelt, and so on. Having the cultures developed to the point where they're really not so recognizable anymore would be kind of counter-productive. Besides, time for development to occur isn't really an issue; many ancient cultures existed for long periods of time with only small or modest changes in terms of arms and armour, and slow development can always be partially attributed to the setbacks of the Green Death.

[benoist]

Cool thread!

[Cthulhu Colin]

Thanks, chaps.

AMAZONIAN ARMS
Famed for their hoplite phalanxes supported with light skirmishers, the Amazons have a varied approach to arms and armor that depends very strongly on their means and role.

Melee Weapons
No Amazon would be willingly caught unarmed, all carrying at the very least a straight, double-edged dagger with a narrow guard and pommel. Poorer and less experienced warriors support the hoplites as skirmishers, bearing such a dagger and a club or shortsword along with a ranged weapon.

The heavily-armed hoplite defines the Amazon on the battlefield, equipped with a long spear as a primary arm and shortsword or kopis (the falcata’s inspiration) for close-in fighting. Few in number, and not highly esteemed, Amazonian cavalry are similarly armed, though their spear is a longer, appropriate for use as a lance.

Amazonian viragos, those rare few warriors given to uncontrolled rage, traditionally bear double-bitted labrys great axes, and are justly feared.

Ranged Weapons
Amazonian skirmishers select their missile weapons from a wide selection of arms. Some serve as short bow archers or slingers, both weapons with which the Amazons are considered highly skilled. Others carry a trio of light javelins or a handful of heavy, weighted darts.

In defense of their fortifications, select warriors use heavy crossbows, though these are considered too slow for general battlefield use.

Armor
Amazonian skirmishers seldom wear any armor, but sometimes wield small, round metal shields. The same cannot be said of hoplites and cavalry. These warriors carry large, circular wooden shields faced with a thin layer of metal, and wear either linothorax (a surprisingly effective layered fabric cuirass; treat as leather armor) or sculpted steel muscle cuirass (treat as laminated armor) along with leather pteruges, steel greaves, and a steel helmet of Attic or Corinthian style. Warriors individualize their helmets with dyed horsehair crests, and the wealthy may have highly-embellished or plated versions of the cuirass.

[jasonzavoda]

Oct 29, 2012 7:00:37 GMT -6 Cthulhu Colin said:

In areas where cultures border each other, there's more intermingling of ideas (and everything else), and in the great melting pot cities you'll find all manner of developments. However, before you can mingle on the fringes you need a good idea of what each culture is like, giving the GM a foundation to work from. Besides, dealing with every case where X village uses a mixture of Y and Z would be insane.

Ultimately, if the cultures and approaches weren't distinct (while also being somewhat accessible due to familiarity), even bothering with them would be largely pointless. I feel that the recognizable cultures is a strong point for the game: if someone wants to play a Viking, they can play a Viking, likewise a Kelt, and so on. Having the cultures developed to the point where they're really not so recognizable anymore would be kind of counter-productive. Besides, time for development to occur isn't really an issue; many ancient cultures existed for long periods of time with only small or modest changes in terms of arms and armour, and slow development can always be partially attributed to the setbacks of the Green Death.

In my campaign I plan on having any number of old earth peoples in a culture stasis. I want my small fuzzy creatures from alpha centauri to be real small fuzzy creatures from alpha centauri, or as Colin puts it, I want my Vikings to be Vikings and not worry about making them a mixture of other peoples and somehow not the Vikings we all know and love so well, (or at least the loosely distilled mixture of historical and Hollywood Viking's that I saw them as in my youth while mangling my Marx action playset of Knights and Vikings I'd gotten for Christmas).

I don't expect my players to keep to these cultural confines but I do want them to experience them. It is very handy that Colin is doing the legwork for the base cultures, especially for me since I haven't had time to do little of anything for the past month.

[mabon5127]

Oct 28, 2012 20:51:19 GMT -6 jasonzavoda said:

This is an extremely useful series of posts. While I see Hyperborea as a mix of the ancient, the horrific, the utterly fantastic, I don't see it as medieval or post-medieval and I can't picture a culture that would have developed full plate armor, at least for my campaign. I also like the idea that the cultures tend to be as insular as possible and have kept costume, weapons and armor as distinct as possible.

I agree on both counts. I generally feel that Plate Armor = High Fantasy for me. I would rather use a Squamata / Scale type armor for the heavy Cataphract.

I also like the cultural differences it makes for great role-playing opportunities.

In the past I handled the weapons differently so that damage was based on weapon size and character class. This eliminated the need for a character to pick weapons based on rules (damage vs weight vs cost etc.) and pick what ever he wanted to role-play.

[Cthulhu Colin]

Oct 30, 2012 11:46:08 GMT -6 mabon5127 said:

I agree on both counts. I generally feel that Plate Armor = High Fantasy for me. I would rather use a Squamata / Scale type armor for the heavy Cataphract.

Fortunately, 99% of cataphracts still will, but the best plate armour has already been mentioned in the official background material on Hyperborea as coming from the Kimmerians, so I'll be including a small line in that regard (but heavily, and I mean heavily, driving home the point that it's insanely rare, expensive, has to be custom-made, and takes a long time to manufacture, even assuming you can find a smith willing to make a suit for a random adventurer).

Now, on to better things. Courtesy of Angus McBride and the fantastic Osprey military books, we see the results of a clash between the Vikings of Vikland and those of Thur:

[Cthulhu Colin]

And here, courtesy of Wayne Reynolds, also published by Osprey, we see a well-equipped Keltic warrior of high blood:

[jasonzavoda]

You have to love the Osprey books.

[Cthulhu Colin]

Oct 30, 2012 15:05:13 GMT -6 jasonzavoda said:

You have to love the Osprey books.

Yep. Not too long ago my Osprey collection consisted of nearly 150 books, but as I've been pruning more and more of my library in preparation for the move to NZ, I'm now down to about 20.

Colin

[Cthulhu Colin]

KIMMERIAN (STEPPE) ARMS
The arms and armors forged by the Kimmerians of the steppes are dominated by a single Kimmerian ideal: the horse is all. Due to this outlook, cavalry are everything in Kimmerian society, and infantry are considered all but worthless.

Melee Weapons
With Kimmerian infantry being composed entirely of hastily assembled peasants, these footsoldiers bring whatever they can scavenge or cobble together to the field, typically an assortment of crude light clubs, shoddy war clubs, hand axes, daggers, footman’s flails, and short spears.

The superbly-skilled Kimmerian cavalry is divided into two types: light horsemen, these serving as mounted archers and skirmishers, and cataphracts, heavily-armed and armored shock cavalry comprised of nobles and other wealthy, proven Kimmerians. Both sorts wield straight, double-edged longswords and daggers, both with ring-shaped pommels, the latter sheathed at the right thigh and an indication of worth in steppe Kimmerian culture. Beyond the ubiquitous sword and dagger, some light horsemen also carry a short spear, but the main focus of their armament is on ranged weapons. The same cannot be said of the cataphract. In addition to the sword and dagger, the Kimmerian cataphract always wields a long, spear-like lance, and often a further melee weapon such as a horseman’s flail, horseman’s hammer, horseman’s pick, or smooth, flat-headed horseman’s mace, all being crafted from beautifully-carved wood with a short, one-handed steel grip at the end of the haft.

Ranged Weapons
Kimmerian infantry may use a motley assortment of slings, short bows, and even hurled stones, but all Kimmerian cavalry carry composite shortbows, light horsemen and cataphracts alike. Kimmerian horse archery is beyond compare, and their light horsemen make great use of the famed “parting shot” in combat. The bows are carried in open cases that include the quiver, and such cases may be intricately decorated. In addition to the bow, many light horsemen also carry two or three javelins to increase their options.

Armor
The shield is not used in steppe Kimmerian culture as they prefer to keep both hands free for the use of a bow while mounted, and rely on speed or heavy armor to protect them in any case.

As beneath contempt as they are in Kimmerian society, peasant levies are not provided armor, and light horsemen eschew armor, relying instead on speed, mobility, and striking from range to keep them from harm. At most they might wear a quilted kaftan (treat as padded armor), as much for warmth as protection.

Kimmerian cataphracts invest in some of the best heavy armor in Hyperborea. Depending on wealth, they will wear a full suit of scale armor, chain mail, banded mail, or lamellar, sometimes combining elements of different types. A few highly-skilled Kimmerian smiths have also begun to manufacture plate mail, though this is rare, highly-coveted, expensive, and must be custom made, a process taking a considerable length of time even if the smith accepts a commission from any non-noble or non-Kimmerian.

Kimmerian helmets are simple domes affixed with scale or mail aventials to protect the neck, and also sometimes mail veils to protect the face. Most top the dome with a short spike from which a decorative horsehair plume hangs, the tail of a favored stallion.

Cataphracts also purchase scale, chain, or lamellar barding for their horses, resulting in a heavily-armored mount and rider both. Staunch traditionalists among the cataphracts only buy half-barding (half the cost, only provides the AC and DR vs. attacks from the front), barding that only covers the horse’s chest, head, neck, and forequarters, leaving the rear unprotected. Only cowards flee, they state, so barding is not needed behind the saddle. Fortunately for the horses, such diehards are becoming scare.

[Cthulhu Colin]

PICTISH ARMS
The tattooed Picts are famed for their speed and agility in combat, their lack of armor, their astounding leaps, and their use of war dogs in battle. They are exceptional skirmishers, adequate horsemen, and their wolf and raven berserkers are duly feared.

Melee Weapons
Like most people, Picts almost universally possess daggers, these being long-bladed, double-edged, and fitted with narrow guards and broad pommels. These are often used in the off-hand of those Picts who do not possess a shield, alongside the primary armament of a broadsword with a rounded tip, a hand axe with a square blade, a broad-headed short spear, or a ball-headed cudgel.

Less common in use are the broad-headed long spear, staff, battle axe, and great axe, the latter two with the distinctive Pictish-style square axehead.

Ranged Weapons
Beyond the thrown use of any hand axes and spears a Pict might carry, they frequently bear two or three simple javelins too, whether mounted or on foot. Others carry simple short bows or light crossbows instead.

Armor
Pictish society holds armor in low regard, considering a shield and possibly a helmet, all the protection a skilled warrior needs. This does not stop Pictish chieftains from wearing chain mail byrnies, however, though less wealthy and influential Picts will wear nothing more than a quilted tunic for warmth, if anything.

The shields used by Picts are small, wooden constructions fronted with leather or felt, those used on foot normally square, those used by horsemen typically round.

Pictish helmets are domed pots with simple hinged cheekguards, occasionally with a nasal and long neckguard or mail aventail fitted. Those of wealth are wont to fix a boar-shaped metal crest atop their helms too.

[Cthulhu Colin]

ESQUIMAUX ARMS
Esquimaux tribesmen are incredibly self-sufficient, able to craft and improvise their own weapons from local materials, using wood, bone, stone, copper, and ivory to craft implements, and gut to lash and affix things firmly. Despite this, they do trade for iron when possible, for although they can easily use natural materials, these do not possess the durability of metal.

Melee Weapons
A double-edged knife is the most basic of Esquimaux tools whether cast in copper, iron or craft from stone or ivory. The ulu, a crescent-shaped blade attached to a horizontal wood or bone handle, can also be used as a weapon if necessary, but is chiefly a tool for gutting and skinning (treat as a dagger).

Walrus ivory, bone (the long thingy bone of the walrus is highly favored), stone and wood are also used to create light clubs, these being short and paddle-like or slender. Such clubs are often carved to resemble local beasts, and are used as weapons of war, hunting implements, and to stun fish.

A hatchet-sized adze of stone or iron is a common Esquimaux tool also used as a weapon (treat as handaxe) but the most common melee weapon among Esquimaux is the short spear, its tip normally carved from a walrus tusk or bone.

Ranged Weapons
Javelins with carved barbed tips are extremely common, attached to cord to serve as harpoons, as are short bows and long bows backed with cable such as gut to increase their strength (treat as composite short bow and composite long bow). The effectiveness of the javelin is improved with a carved atl-atl.

Prey is also captured with bolas made of bone weights and gut, or brought down with heavy boomerangs of carved driftwood or bone.

Armor
The thick sealskin, fur-lined clothing the Esquimaux wear provides some protection itself (treat as Leather), but when war is upon them, they don calf-length coats of thick leather reinforced with lamellar of walrus ivory, copper, or iron (treat as Scale armor), and a large, wing-like pauldron across the shoulders and back of the arms. A conical lamellar cap finishes the suit.

[jasonzavoda]

Man those esquimaux look cold. That one guy needs a woolly sweater +3

[Cthulhu Colin]

KIMMERIAN (Kimmeri-Keltic) ARMS
While some Kimmeri-Keltic tribes strongly favor one culture to the near exclusion of the other, in most the merger has produced a remarkably balanced approach to defense with strong Keltic infantry married to the Kimmerian love of horse archers and cataphracts. In large part, this has helped the tribes resist attacks by both Kimmerians and ordinary Kelts.

Melee Weapons
Kimmeri-Kelt weapon use favors those of Kelts for footmen and those of Kimmerians for horsemen, retaining the typical Keltic anthropoidal hilt, but extending the figure’s arms to form a ring-shaped pommel.

Ranged Weapons
The Kimmeri-Keltic tribes were quick to adopt the superior Kimmerian composite shortbow, though javelins are also still commonplace among footsoldiers and cavalry alike, with slings and staff-slings rounding out the ranged weapons of the former.

Armor
The Keltic influence has led to the adoption of the shield even by many Kimmeri-Keltic cataphracts. Similarly, although the Kimmeri-Kelts make use of the full range of Kimmerian armor, including barding, the superior Keltic-style helmet has replaced the Kimmerian one in use even among cataphracts. In some Kimmeri-Keltic tribes the helmet has even developed further, becoming a deep pot-style helm with built-in rigid cheekguards and nasal, often decorated with bestial horns (see AS&SH Players’ Manual, pg. 33).

[Ghul]

Great work, Colin. I just got back from a con this past weekend, and I love all this great reading. You've really injected some great cultural flavor into the campaign.

[Cthulhu Colin]

Thanks, mate. I'll hold off on the Hyperboreans, Atlanteans, and Krimmean Kimmerians until I've had a chance to chew the fat with you about them, and made any tweaks you might like to the existing pieces.

[Cthulhu Colin]

Modified the Ketic and Esquimaux entries with slight tweaks (adding the spiked staff to the Kelts and Boomerang to the Esquimaux).


ATLANTEAN ARMS
With the profound technological knowledge of their forefathers fading from memory, it is all the Atlanteans can do to keep some lesser relics operational. Although still advanced compared to many of Hyperborea’s cultures, they are but a shadow of their former glory, and as they become ever more tied to the sea, their approach to arms has changed significantly.

Melee Weapons
A tool and a ready means to hunt and defend oneself, the dagger is the most common arm among Atlanteans, as with most men. Atlantean daggers are slightly-curved, single-edged, taper to a stabbing point, and have small round guards. They are carried in a shagreen sheath tied to the lower leg.

Other Atlantean melee weapons also possess utility both beneath the waves and above them, with tridents and short spears being used as commonly to hunt as fight. When it comes to pitched battle, however, small formations of pikemen and longspearmen are often brought to the fore.

Ranged Weapons
Aside from the effectiveness of a thrown trident or spear, the lightly-armored Atlanteans bring several unusual ranged weapons to bear. They use all manner of crossbows, both light, heavy, and repeating, though these are markedly different than normal crossbows elsewhere. Rather than using limbs and a string to propel the bolt, Atlantean crossbows (more properly called “springbows”) have no limbs, and use a powerful spring inside a tubular setting for the bolt, the whole thing attached to a stock. Though no faster or more powerful than normal crossbows, they are obviously slimmer in design and less awkward to use underwater, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the small, one-handed Atlantean pistol crossbow.

Equally indicative of the current state of Atlantean technology is the hooked throwing knife, a weapon they designed to deal with shield-carrying foes. Most Atlantean hooked throwing knifes have folding knife-blades that spring out ready to be thrown with the push of a button. The most skillful of Atlantean warriors are even said to be able to increase the hooked throwing knife’s range by skipping it across the surface of a body of water as one would skip a flat stone.

Armor
Given their amphibious nature, shields are eschewed in Atlantean culture as being simply too cumbersome, and armor worn is form-hugging and streamlined so as to impede less underwater and above; Atlanteans warriors often operate as skirmishers, and prefer to remain mobile. A hardened shagreen cuirass (treat as Leather Armor) or metal fish-scale cuirass (as Scale Armor) are the only armors encountered with any frequency, augmented by leather or metal bracers and greaves.

[Cthulhu Colin]

HYPERBOREAN ARMS
Hyperborean choice in arms and armor is as indicative of their arrogance and self-superiority as any other facet of their culture. They refuse to entertain the purchase or use of substandard implements, and where possible invest in beautifully decorated weapons and armor, frequently plating other metals with copper, or inlaying exposed metal with fine copper-filled runes and sigils.

Melee Weapons
When it comes to weapons, Hyperboreans favor the blade and swordsmanship for its elegance, power, and aristocratic association, disdaining nearly all other weapons as crude and simplistic. Whether slender and tapering, flammard (wavy), or heavily curved, they employ daggers, scimitars of all types, and swords short, long, bastard, and two-handed. The dagger, in particular, is an accoutrement of fashion and utility, for no Hyperborean knows when a rival may send an assassin their way, nor when opportunity may present the chance to remove an unsuspecting impediment to power with a swift knife between the shoulderblades.

Apart from knives and swords, some train in the use of the staff, an elegant weapon, crafted ideally from exotic hardwoods, that meshes well with their length of limb, and that also serves as a visible symbol of rulership, sagacity, and magical power.

Rarer than blade or stave is the cruelly-barbed and braided whip wielded by Hyperborean slave masters, and the often elaborately-engraved and appointed glaive polarm used by high-ranking Hyperborean guardsmen.

Ranged Weapons
The only ranged weapon deemed worthy in the Hyperborean outlook is the well-crafted composite longbow, though archery is considered a distant second in favor to the skill of fencing.

Armor
For armour, many Hyperboreans wear lightly-quilted, embroidered robes that conceal a thin layer of mail within (treat as Padded Armor), a subtle form of protection against the blade from the shadows. Some enjoy wearing exotic and embossed leathers, brigandine concealed beneath an outer layer of rich fabric, or chain mail that is blackened or plated with copper.

The most distinct element of Hyperborean armor is the helm, for it always features a pointed dome and curves around to protect the face with a short nasal and broad cheekguards, some individuals mounting the browridge with a stylistic crest representing the family of the wearer (see AS&SH Players’ Manual, pg. 41).

Shields are not used as they are seen as gauche, and given the preponderance of magic use within Hyperborean society, they prefer to keep their offhand free for the casting of sorceries anyway.

[Ghul]

Well done on these latest two entries, Colin. I think these "fantasy" races gave you an opportunity to explore a bit of creativity and thoughtfulness, all of which adds further character and color to any Hyperborean campaign. I am very pleased with this entire series!

[Cthulhu Colin]

Thanks, mate. Added a pistol crossbow to the Atlantean mix (seemed appropriate to be something they'd develop). And now, here's another fantasy race, the Krimmeans:

KIMMERIAN (Krimmean) ARMS
Subterranean life has profoundly impacted the Krimmean approach to weapons and warfare, these proud warriors no longer the cataphracts and horse archers they once were, for underground life and the confines of vaults and tunnels, do not well suit horses.

Melee Weapons
Moving away from bladed arms for the most part, for such weapons fare poorly when they clash with close-in stone walls, the Krimmeans have adapted the tools of mining and masonry as well as such weapons as are useful in corridors, tunnels, close-up melee, and portecting narrow entryways. Warhammers, footmen's maces, and war picks dominate, some stronger warriors also wielding great hammers and great maces.

Due to their ability to keep a foe at bay, especially in a narrow passage, there is some use of short and long spears, as well as the beaked poleaxe too, though these all tend to be only used in key locations by guards and in close defensive formation.

Ranged Weapons
With space being at a premium and no need for arching shots, the traditional Kimmerian composite bow has been utterly displaced by the crossbow in Krimmean culture, both light and heavy varieties abounding.

Armor
In terms of armor only, the Krimmeans largely resemble their steppe-dwelling counterparts. Warriors wear full suits of scale armor, chain mail, banded mail, or lamellar that in many ways resembles standard Kimmerian armor. Even the helmet is similar, albeit bereft of top-mounted spikes and decorations that might catch on low ceilings. To the horror of their surface-dwelling brethren, the Krimmeans have also adopted small round metal shields to bolster their defenses, lacking as they do the speed and defensive aid mounted combat provides.

[Cthulhu Colin]

PICTISH (Half-Blood) ARMS
In reasserting their Tlingit heritage, the Half-Bloods have revived old warrior traditions. Great skirmishers, they still field wolf and raven berserkers, these more totemic than the wolf and raven berserks of the Picts.

Melee Weapons
Of great import to the Half-Blood clans are their daggers, these handed down across generations, each with a unique history attached. Long, double-edged, and forged of copper or iron, they frequently feature large pommels carved in the shape of the family or clan crest, inlaid with pearlescent abalone. Others feature short, blade-like pommels instead, allowing the dagger to strike with a backwards stab also. Both types are carried in leather sheaths worn around the neck on a strap, this strap often wound around the wielder’s wrist in combat so as to ensure the dagger is not lost if dropped.

Also common are barbed short spears, long spears, and javelins, some tribes also using short and broad or long and thin, heavily carved, paddle-shaped clubs, both light and war. Such clubs are also utilized in ritual dances, and are colorfully dyed using natural pigments.

Ranged Weapons
The standard short bow is the Half-Blood ranged weapon of choice, alongside any spears and javelins as might be thrown.

Armor
While the Picts may disdain the use of armor in favor of a shield only, the Half-Bloods do not subscribe to such thinking. Many wear heavy elkskin tunics with multiple layers over vital areas (treat as Leather Armor), but when pitched battle is on the horizon, they don a war panoply (treat as Scale Armor). Such distinctive armor is worn over the elkskin tunic, and consists of a cuirass of wooden or bone slats, carved wooden collar, and high, broad-rimmed wooden war helmet. Highly stylized, this armor is carved and painted with natural pigments to represent an appropriate war animal, bird, or shamanic spirit.

Unlike the Picts, Half-Blood warriors do not bear shields.


Just replace the guns with spears and carved war clubs or short bows, and you've got the idea.

[Cthulhu Colin]

Just the Ixians left to do.

[mabon5127]

Great stuff! Can't wait to see this in a download resource.

Morgan