Originating from the frigid north, these swords are designed to be used with one hand only, the hilts being too short for two-handed use. These weapons are prized throughout the North due to their versatility, light weight, and impressive reach. The skill required to craft such a strong yet light weapon ensures that only the elite and most wealthy soldiers can afford one. Their only weakness is that they are somewhat heavier than the swords of other lands, making them slightly unwieldy.

Cast aside since the Montaigne discovered how to create longer and stronger blades (see Longsword above), the Frislenders were credited with giving this weapon a new life on the battlefield. Their shorter blades make their users disadvantaged against the longer bladed weapons. However, the Frislenders discovered that in the early charge when the front lines clash, it is often better to have a short maneauverable sword, than one that is stuck. Wealthy bowmen and spearmen carry shortswords, for they cannot kneel or crouch with the belted length of a longer blade.

Invented by the Montaigne in response to platemail, the Bastard Sword takes its name from the fact it is not truely a one-handed or a two-handed sword. However, its compromise between the two was found to be useful in the skirmishes involving both heavily armored nobles and lightly armored common soldiers. When used one-handed, it is capable of moderately fast sweeping slashes, and its length helps protect the bearer from being overwhelmed. When used two-handed, it can be used to deliver powerful crushing blows with the pommel or terrible hacking cuts to mail.

Created by the Eiremen, the claymore is a magnificently crafted weapon. Light, yet long and strong, the claymore is a fast weapon that was made to be used with two-hands only. While able to deliver powerful hacking cuts, the claymore is not quite powerful enough to threaten platemail, although it does a good enough job parting mail, as many a Montaigne knight can attest. The principle advantage of the claymore is its speed, due to its superior balance, it is hardly any slower than a one handed sword, yet its reach is much longer.

A derivative of the claymore, the great sword (or zweihander) is a larger and slightly heavier two-handed sword. Created to battle armored opponents, the great sword is a marvel of engineering, and is much more versatile than its creators expected. The additional weight went into a slightly thicker blade, but most of it is in the pommel to provide counter-weight. The sword is able to deliver truely lethal hacking blows to lightly armored opponents. Better yet, the blade can be used to split open weak joints and cracks in platemail, while the pommel can be used as a club. Impressively balanced, the great sword is quite fast, and its reach gives it a strong advantage over most other weapons, making it a useful defensive weapon as well.

A somewhat strange sword, the falchion was designed to combat chainmail by applying most of its force to one part of the blade. Its curved back blade also ends in a wicked tip, allowing the falchion to deliver both thrusting and slashing attacks. Its curved blade also means it delivers a slicing cut rather than chopping wound much like an axe. Used both by the South in their invasion, and the North in their inter-kingdom wars, the falchion is often found in the hands of bandits or skirmishers since its blade is all but useless against platemail.

Recently developed as a compromise between the killing efficiency of the longsword, but without the weight and cost involved. The rapier is a thin bladed weapon whose length is almost as much as a longsword, yet weights significantly less. Although these weapons retain much of the longsword's deadliness against unarmored opponents, its light weight and thinner blade make it much less useful against heavy armor. It is also more likely to break, making it unreliable as a martial weapon, and hence a much more useful civilian side arm.

Another Montaigne invention, the estoc is a cheap and simple adaptation of the sword to the invention of mail and plate. The blade is quite dull, with a reinforced point, making the estoc nothing more than a long straight steel rod with a sharp end. The reinforced blade however means the estoc is capable of some tremendous thrusting attacks, able to easily burst open mail and even penetrate plate. It can also be reversed and used as a club if circumstances demand, making the estoc a simple yet versatile weapon.

Unlike the falchion or scimitar, the falcata has a blade which curves forward, giving it a unique look. This creates a similar effect to the falchion where the force is concentrated in the crook of the blade. However, the falcata is more than capable of hacking through chainmail, cleaving shields, and even dismembering limbs. Its blows are just as fast as any other Northern longsword, but its blows are slightly more powerful. Used by the Eiremen in their wars against the Montaigne and the Khaliphate invasion, the falcata still continues to be used today against armors of all kinds.

Used primarily by the steppe peoples in the East and South, the saber is a light and fast sword capable of quick slashing cuts. It has a slightly curved blade to help with the force of the blow. Its point also allows it to be used as a thrusting weapon in the event of charges. Primarily used from horseback, the saber is a simple and utilitarian weapon against lighter armors. However, against heavier armors, the saber performs poorly.

Slightly heavier than a saber, the scimitar is used in the South to combat heavier armors. It too has a curved blade much like the scimitar, and is able to deliver thrusting attacks. However, its heavier blade means it can also be used against mail. Its pommel is also large enough to be used to bash or club opponents.

An invention of the far East, the katana is a distant cousin to the Northern bastsard sword. Able to be used one or two-handed, most Eastern warriors use it in two-hands to take advantage of its great balance. Although the blade is shorter than most swords of its type, the balance and speed makes up for this lack. The curved blade is capable of delivering a slicing cut or a thrust, and the blades are stronger than their thickness suggests. However, katanas fare poorly against platemail for exactly this reason.

The wakazashi is the Eastern equivalent of the short sword. Aside from its curved blade (and hence a slicing cut), the wakazashi is typically as long as its counter-parts (unlike the katana). Its thin blade is similar to the katana, stronger than it suggests, but weak against the heavier armors.

The simplest of spears, these weapons have simple slender thrusting tips. Javelins are a variation of the spear designed to be thrown. These simple spears are used only to stab, although the butt can be capped with metal. This allows the spear to be used as a club, to deliver bone breaking strikes to the legs, or simply to trip.

Theses broad bladed spears have a short blade attached to their end, with lugs on the sides to prevent the blade from embedding itself into the target. Capable of either thrusting or slashing attacks, these spears are primarly used for warfare and hunting. More expensive than a simple spear, these are usually found with huntsmen or soldiers.

These spears are very deadly, as the barbs will often cause additional ripping in the wound. However, once caught, the spear is often stuck and cannot be used again. Virtually all who use these spears carry backup weapons, or poison them. Often the spear is used to strike deep into a shield, and then the spear is cast aside to drag the opponents shield down, allowing a deadly strike to the chest.

Also invented by the Montaigne in response to platemail, the bec de corbin is a very versatile weapon. The head of the weapon has a long thrusting spike sticking straight out. At a right angle out of one side of the head, a short curved blade just out, while a hammer's head juts out on the other. The resulting weapon is capable of thrusting, slashing or crushing opponents armor, making it useful against everything from poorly armored peasants to heavily armored knights. The butt end can also be used to trip or smash opponents legs in between strikes, making it a useful defensive weapon. Its impressive reach and versatility is only countered by its weight and mediocre balance.

Created by the Frislenders, the partizan is simply a longsword attached to a pole. With a longer blade, the partizan is capable of much more powerful slashing cuts while still able to thrust. This weapon is incredibly savage to the lightly armored opponent, making it a Frislender favorite when fighting the mounted and lightly armored Khaliphate and Mughal armies.

A simple Mercian weapon, the bill is simply a large cleaving blade attacked to a long pole. While not able to thrust, the bill is capable of delivering very powerful cleaving blows, deadly to armored and unarmored opponents alike. Unlike many other spears, ths bill can deliver a hacking cut, making it useful against the heavier armors.

An eastern invention, the naginata is almost a katana on a wooden pole. Its length allows the bearer to deliver a much more powerful shearing cut than normally possible, which is very effective against the armors of the East. The naginata is also balanced fairly well due to the lightness of the blade, allowing it to be wielded a bit faster than its northern counter-parts. Similar blade and butt styles are usable with the naginata.

The smallest of axes, it can still do considerable damage through leather and studded armor despite its dagger like size. The only disadvantage to this diminuative weapon is that it gains its power at the expense of balance and speed.

These small axes are often used as backup weapons against the heavier armors such as brigandine, banded, and perhaps chainmail. Like all axes, despite their smaller size, they stil do considerable damage because of their awkward balance. Some axes have spikes on the back end to allow them to act as picks against chainmail.

These axes are the largest that can be wielded in one hand, and they are capable of delivering horrible hacking blows capable of dismembering limbs from weakly armored opponents. Against heavier armor, these axes deal quite admirably, even decently well against platemail. Since these axes are almost entirely for martial use, they all have spikes or hammer heads to counterweight the blade. This allows the axe blade to be used as a general purpose weapon, with the pick for chainmail, or the hammer for plate.

These giant two-handed axes are terrible weapons to behold in battle. Capable of cleaving shields and shattering armor, they are equally ruthless against the soft flesh of men and the hard armor that protects them. Tearing great rents and gashes into platemail, their blades are also able to hack through chainmail. While possessed of decent reach, these axes are unwieldy and slow. Some great axes are for logging purposes, but most are martial weapons, and have the familiar back spike or hammer head.

The martial equivalent of a club, the mace is wooden pole with a weighted end to give the blow more force. Most maces have either ball heads, or the most advanced flange head for cracking open plate and breaking bones. Most soft armor, such as leather and even chainmail can provide some protection, but not enough to prevent the blow from cracking ribs. The only disadvantage to maces are that they are unbalanced and relatively slow.

Unlike the carpenter's hammer, the warhammer is almost a piercing weapon. With a tiny flat or pronged head, it is designed to impact maximum force until the smallest possible area without slippage. These weapons are the most effective counter to plate invented yet, and are equally capable of crushing bones into compound fractures, or splitting open helms and heads. Often the warhammer is counter-balanced with a back spike, making it equally useful against chainmail. The only disadvantage to the warhammer is its unbalanced design, but it gains great power and reach as a result.

This is a great two-handed warhammer. Similar to a bec de corbin, the lucern hammer does not have the spike or blade of the polearm, but is more balanced because of it. Slightly shorter as well, the lucern hammer is faster, but still very powerful against rigid armor such as platemail. The haft can still be used to parry, and the butt can also be used to trip or bash opponents.

Similar to the mace, the flair is a mace whose head is attached to the pole via a chain. Originally an agricultural implement, the flails operate similarly to maces except they are even slower and more powerful in their blows. The chain also gives the flail additional reach and can also be used to wrap around opponent's weapons, potentially disarming them (especially hafted weapons such as spears).

A simple and sturdy weapon, a dagger is a short but has a broad blade. This allows it to be used both as a stabbing tool, and for slashing cuts. The only real disadvantage to a dagger is the short blade and the light weight, preventing it from dealing truely powerful blows. However, the dagger is still capable of dealing lethal wounds.

Dirks are longer bladed daggers. Typically, dirks have thinner blades, making them unsuitable for slashing attacks, although exceptions do exist. The thinner and longer blade allows the dirk to be more effective at puncturing mail and piercing thicker armors.

Dirks are longer bladed daggers. Typically, dirks have thinner blades, making them unsuitable for slashing attacks, although exceptions do exist. The thinner and longer blade allows the dirk to be more effective at puncturing mail and piercing thicker armors.

The poignard is virtually a short sword. With a thin reinforced blade, the poignard is hardly suited for slashing at all, but the longer blade makes it capable of bursting open mail and even penetrating platemail. Designed to dig through armor, this weapon is also well suited towards probing lightly armored opponents until a vital organ is punctured.

The main gauche is a short stabbing dagger with an exaggerated hilt. This allows the weapon to be used as a stabbing weapon with the off hand, while also allowing the bearer to parry most weapons safely, even some two-handed weapons. Thanks to the reinforced grip, the weapon can stop virtually any attack provided it's parried near the haft.

The simplest weapon of them all, the staff is deceptive. Although unglamorous and unsuited for the rigors of martial war, the staff is still a deadly weapon in the hands of a trained duelest. It's combination of reach and balance makes it deadly in one on one combat.

The club is a very crude weapon, delivering a weaker blow than a mace due to the lack of a weighted head. However, against fists, the club is much better than nothing at all.

The first bows invented by man, these bows are created out a slightly curved piece of wood that has a bow string attached to each end. These so called straight bows are capable of delivering serious wounds despite their primitive construction, and also have enough range to be useful for hunting and war.

Specially curved to allow the user greater tension on the string, these bows deliver greater range and power than normal short bows. The are also easier to handle than normal short bows, and represent an evolution of archery.

The most advanced bows are created out three pieces of wood joined together with blue, sinew, and bone to create a very strong yet flexible bow. Invented in the far East, these bows are small and easy to handle, yet can propel an arrows farther with much greater force due to the increased elasticity of the bow. The compound or composite bow is used almost exclusively for martial use.

The longbow is similar to a normal straight short bow, only the length of the bow is approximatly equal to the height of the user. These bows are fairly cumbersome and difficult to use, requiring a lot of strength from the wielder.

A recurve long bow is similar to the short bow, only the length is again, almost that of the wielder. Again, this allows the bow longer range and easier handling, although it is still slow and requires a very strong wielder.

The greatest martial ranged weapon with the exception of the crossbow, these bows are easy to handle and incredibly powerful. While they require a strong wielder to make the most out of them, their easier handling makes them far superior to other types of long bow. The arrows from these bows are capable of penetrating platemail and mail easily, making them the perfect weapons for slaying slower and more heavily armored opponents.

Recently introduced to the world by the Xian, the crossbow is an anomoly among weapons. It requires virtually no training for someone to become proficient in its use. Unfortunately, its extreme difficulty in crafting makes this weapon rare and available only to a select few.