Ilsamir arming sword and the sword of a Guardsman of Darineth
Throughout the Ilsamir lands the weapon of choice of the soldiery is the sword. Nobody knows when the first swords were used by the Ilsamiri, but it is likely that they increased quickly in popularity at a few key points in the history of the Empire. The first boom would have come with the opening of the mines in the Shield Mountains. This most ancient make of sword was shorter and less elegant than those that were to come in the 3rd Century. Galuir, the finest Ilsamir smith ever to have lived, was the first to introduce amounts of carbon to his blades, and he rapidly, and secretly, devised cunning methods with which to make weapons that were hard-edged and flexible and longer and keener than those of previous eras.
It was these advances, which led to the forging of the first long-sword, Galve, for the King Ilahir II, that were to inform the later development of all weapons and armour in the Ilsamir lands. To this day, the make of the swords of the Guardsmen of Darineth reflects closely that of Galve, though these men retain armour of the older kind.
Ilsamir Pike
The Ilsamiri have some of the most disciplined armies ever to have walked the world and it is this discipline that has given them desire for the pike - a spear of prodigious length. Ilsamir pikes are usually some 14 feet in length and are perfectly suited for tackling not only enemy formations, but also less organised rabbles.
Southern arming sword and spear
Though founded by the Ilsamiri, the Kingdom of the Merchants was an independent state at the time of Galuir's advances. This caused some delay in the passing on of knowledge, but when it came the Merchant Kings were soon to put it to good use. Throughout the lands of the Bay the sounds of hammers ringing on hot steel could be heard and so was born the true strength of the Southern armies. They devised armours somewhat heavier than those of their Northern founders but which offered incredible protection. They applied Galuir's teachings to spears, arrows and blades and soon they rivalled the Ilsamiri in skill.
Although the people of the South also love swords, they yet prefer weapons of greater efficacy when used in great numbers. Their spears, with fine wrought points, cold as snow on the Unassailable Peaks, are some of the finest known in the world and, in their thousands, bristling from a wall of tall shields, they cannot be overcome.
Western fighting axe and broadheaded spear
The gifts of steel came late to the People of the Western Pastures, the Descendants of the Sun. Though their alliance with the Ilsamiri was old, they were still a people quite apart and had much greater affection for wood than for iron. They had long made works of metal, tools and weapons, but in no great numbers for the Arkiri Garise in the south and the Vurea Tehavalin in the north kept their ore very deep.
This lack of metal did not dim the desire of the Western People for strong weapons, they merely used the products of ore less than their allies. To this end, their weapons, even to the present day, are founded on sturdy wooden hafts from the Dwindling Forest and merely capped with works of iron or steel. The men of the Sun therefore fight with axes and spears - formidable weapons.
so awesome, u guys are putting amazing effort into the story, and weapons, and well everything!!! excellent job, good enough to be a game!
I share these sentiments. All the background info's especially great. Really eloquent, too. It makes me very excited. You should write a novel!