Equipment
The following sections describe the equipment available in Cynemis.
Melee Weapons
| Name | Skill | Dam | Crit | Range | Encum | Price | Rarity | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armored Gauntlet | Brawl | +1 | 5 | Engaged | 0 | 30 | 3 | Stun 3 |
| Dagger | Melee-Light | +1 | 3 | Engaged | 1 | 20 | 1 | Pierce 1 |
| Hand Axe | Melee-Light | +1 | 3 | Engaged | 2 | 50 | 1 | Vicious 1 |
| Sickle | Melee-Light | +1 | 3 | Engaged | 2 | 50 | 1 | Vicious 1 |
| Quarterstaff | Melee-Light | +2 | 4 | Engaged | 2 | 50 | 1 | Defensive 1, Disorient 2 |
| Gladius | Melee-Light | +2 | 3 | Engaged | 2 | 50 | 1 | Pierce 1 |
| Club | Melee-Light | +2 | 4 | Engaged | 2 | 50 | 1 | Disorient 1 |
| Light Spear | Melee-Light | +2 | 3 | Engaged | 2 | 40 | 1 | Accurate 1, Pierce 1 |
| Mace | Melee-Light | +2 | 3 | Engaged | 2 | 40 | 1 | Disorient 2 |
| Trident | Melee-Heavy | +3 | 3 | Engaged | 1 | 80 | 1 | Pierce 2, Vicious 1 |
| Long Spear | Melee-Heavy | +3 | 3 | Short | Pierce 2 | |||
| Warhammer | Melee-Heavy | +3 | 3 | Engaged | Disorient 2 | |||
| Khopesh | Melee-Heavy | +3 | 3 | Engaged | Ensnare, Vicious 1, Cumbersome 3 | |||
| Broadsword | Melee-Heavy | +3 | 3 | Engaged | Vicious 2, Defensive 1 | |||
| Pike | Melee-Heavy | +3 | 3 | Short | Pierce 3, Cumbersome 3 | |||
| Halberd | Melee-Heavy | +3 | 3 | Engaged | 1 | 20 | 1 | Defensive 1, Pierce 3 |
| Greatsword | Melee-Heavy | +4 | 2 | Engaged | 1 | 20 | 1 | Defensive 1, Pierce 1, Unwieldy 3 |
| Greataxe | Melee-Heavy | +4 | 3 | Engaged | 1 | 20 | 1 | Cumbersome 3, Sunder, Vicious 3 |
| Maul | Melee-Heavy | +4 | 3 | Engaged | Knockdown, Disorient 3, Sunder, Cumbersome 4 |
Ranged Weapons
| Name | Skill | Dam | Crit | Range | Encum | Price | Rarity | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dart | Ranged | 4 | 4 | Short | Thrown | |||
| Sling | Ranged | 4 | 4 | Medium | Disorient 1 | |||
| Blowgun | Ranged | 4 | 4 | Medium | Stun | |||
| Dagger | Ranged | 4 | 3 | Short | Pierce 1, Thrown, Limited Ammo 1 | |||
| Hand Axe | Ranged | 5 | 3 | Short | Vicious 1, Thrown, Limited Ammo 1 | |||
| Javelin | Ranged | 6 | 3 | Medium | Piece 1, Thrown, Limited Ammo 1 | |||
| Bola | Ranged | 1 | - | Short | Ensnare 3, Knockdown, Limited Ammo 1 | |||
| Net | Ranged | 2 | - | Short | Ensnare 3, Knockdown, Limited Ammo 1, Prepare 1 | |||
| Short Spear | Ranged | 6 | 3 | Short | Pierce 1, Thrown, Limited Ammo 1 | |||
| Harpoon | Ranged | 8 | 3 | Short | Pierce 2, Vicious 2, Thrown, Cumbersome 3, Limited Ammo 1 | |||
| Shortbow | Ranged | 6 | 3 | Medium | 2 | 60 | 2 | Unwieldy 2 |
| Longbow | Ranged | 9 | 3 | Long | 3 | 150 | 4 | Unwieldy 3 |
| Crossbow | Ranged | 7 | 2 | Medium | 3 | 200 | 4 | Pierce 2, Prepare 1 |
Traditional Houzi Weapons
Gun
The Gun is a long staff weapon used in Houzi martial arts. It is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the qiang (spear), dao (sabre), and the jian (sword), called in this group "The Grandfather of all Weapons".
Fu
The Fu, the Houzou name for the axe, is usually held by imperial guards, rather than common soldiers. The Fu was characterized by a large blade that was often carved with a image of a powerful animal. Fu is similar to another weapon, the Yue, but is much smaller and lighter and has more practical applications.
Fu Zi
In its most common form, an arm-length weapon wirlded in one or both hands. Compared to a sword swing, it delivers more cleaving power against a smaller target area, making it more effective against armor, due to concentrating more of its weight in the axehead. However, it allows much less precision than a sword does.
Shuang Fu
Double axes are a short, traditional weapon that is very powerful, wielded with two hands.
Yue
The Yue is an axe-shaped weapon used in Houzou lands. It has a threatening expanded blade and is usually decorated with a magical animal. The Yue was created especially for fighting against heavily-armored enemies.
Qiang
The Qiang is a spear with many variations and ubiquitous on the battlefield. It is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the Gun (staff), Dao (sabre), and the Jian (sword), called in this group "The King of Weapons". Common features of the Qiang spear are the leaf shaped blade and red tassel lashed just below. The tassel serves a tactical purpose, and is not simply for decoration.
Ji
The Ji is a two-handed pole weapon comprised of a long handle with a curved blade attached to the top and a sharp metal tip. The Ji is a very diverse and useful instrument, it can be used to slash with the side blade or stab with the tip.
Dao
The Dao is a category of single-edge Houzi swords primarily used for slashing and chopping (sabres), often called a broadsword because some varieties have wide blades. In Houzi lands, the dao is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the gun (staff), qiang (spear), and the jian (sword), and referred to as "The General of All Weapons". Dao is actually a generic word used to denote any member of a family of single-edged, broad-bladed cutting or slicing tools, but in common, everyday usage means knife.
Shuang Dao
Shuang Dao is the wielding of two broadswords simultaneously.
Jiu Jie Bian (Nine Sectional Chain)
The chain whip is a weapon used in some martial arts, especially ancient Wuhan martial arts. It consists of several metal rods, which are joined end-to-end by rings to form a flexible chain. Generally, the whip has a handle at one end and a metal dart, used for slashing or piercing an opponent, at the other. A cloth flag is often attached at or near the dart end of the whip, and a second flag may cover the whip's handle. The flag or flags enhance a performance by adding visual appeal, and by producing a rushing sound as the whip swings through the air. They also help stabilize the whip, enhancing the wielder's control.
Jian
The Jian, a double-edged straight sword, is a harder weapon to control than a single-blade Dao saber, so in Houzi lands the Jian is usually owned and used by the educated class or skilled warrior.
In folklore, it is known as "The Gentleman of Weapons" and is considered one of the four major weapons, along with the Gun (staff), Qiang (spear), and the Dao (sabre). Straight sword technique is ancient and prestigious, handed down from ancient times with characteristics: elegant, robust and strong.
San Jie Gun (Three Sectional Staff)
A flail weapon that consists of three wooden or metal staffs connected by metal rings or rope. A more complicated version of the two section staff, the staves can be spun to gather momentum resulting in a powerful strike, or their articulation can be used to strike over or around a shield or other defensive block.
Shuang Chui (Melon Hammers)
This weapon is traditionally used with brute force, as the strength needed to heft such weapons is considerable. Chui are almost always used in pairs.
Mu Yang Bian (Whip)
The whip is 8 feet long and consists of four parts, the handle: of the length of a forearm, is rigid and has a slot to secure the wrist. Above the hole is a red clump, which hides the hand. At the bottom of the weapon dangle two flakes similar to those of the straight sword, one red and one yellow, to distract the opponent's view from the weapon action.
Shuang Qiang (Double Spears)
The double spears have peculiar features. Each spear has two heads, so the practitioners can attack in four directions. The two spears coordinate well, often with one attacking and the other defending. The spears are swung quickly enough to dazzle the enemy and attack at the first sigh of weakness. Often used techniques are cloud, thrust, swing with figure-8, and press. Movements are sweep in a figure-8 form, chop, point, block and thrust.
Pu Dao (Long Staff Broad Sword)
The halberds are part of the long weapons family. The Pu Dao was originally an edged infantry weapon which is still used for training in many Houzi martial arts. The blade of a Pu Dao is shaped like a Dao, but the weapon has a longer handle usually around four to six feet which is circular in cross section.
Emeici (Emei Daggers)
Emei Daggers are a traditional Wuhan martial arts weapon. They are a pair of metal rods with sharp ends used for stabbing; they are typically mounted on a detachable ring worn on the middle finger, allowing them to spin and be elaborately manipulated. These weapons originated at Mount Emei (hence the name). They are a piece of equipment used in wu shu to this day. The general idea of this weapon is to confuse attacker by spinning the blades thereby distracting in order to get close enough to stab. Also, emeici can be concealed easily for surprise attacks.
Yue Ya Chan
The Crescent Moon Spade has a wooden shaft and a chromed rigid steel head. It is a Houzi pole weapon consisting of a long pole with a flat spade-like blade on one end and a smaller crescent shaped blade on the other. In old Wuhan, monks often carried spades (shovels) with them when traveling. This served two purposes: if they came upon a corpse on the road, they could bury it with proper rites, and the large implement could serve as a weapon for defense against bandits. Over time, they were stylized into the monk's spade weapon.
Shuang Gou
The Hook Sword or Shuang Gou also known as Hu Tou Gou (tiger-head-hook) is an exotic Houzi weapon traditionally associated with Wuhan styles of martial arts, but now often practiced by other styles as well.
Dun
The Dun (made of metal or wood or bamboo) is the Houzi name for shield. It is a big board held in the hand to protect against the attacking of other weapons such as arrow and spear. It is usually used along with a dagger-axe or saber.
Gong
The bow is called Gong in the Houzou language and it has enjoyed a long history. The archers have always been an important branch of the imperial army. In the Houzou Empire, archery has always been an essential subject of the military exam for official selection.
Nu
The Nu is a semi-automatic crossbow. It comprises a feeder on top and a lever near the end for repeating action. Skilled crossbowman can launch 10 bolts in 15 seconds before exhausting the magazine.
Houzi Weapon Table
| Name | Skill | Dam | Crit | Range | Encum | Price | Rarity | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeici (Dagger) | Melee-Light | +1 | 4 | Engaged | Pierce 1 | |||
| Mu Yang Bian (Whip) | Melee-Light | +1 | 5 | Engaged | Accurate 1, Ensnare 1 | |||
| Gun (Staff) | Melee-Light | +2 | 4 | Engaged | Defensive 1, Disorient 2 | |||
| Dao (Saber) | Melee-Light | +2 | 4 | Engaged | Vicious 1 | |||
| Fu (Axe) | Melee-Light | +2 | 3 | Engaged | Pierce 1, Vicious 1 | |||
| Jian (Double-Edged Sword) | Melee-Light | +2 | 3 | Engaged | Accurate 1, Vicious 2, Unwieldy 2 | |||
| Yue Ya Chan (Crescent Moon Spade) | Melee-Light | +2 | 4 | Engaged | Defensive 1, Vicious 1 | |||
| Shuang Gou (Hook Sword) | Melee-Light | +2 | 4 | Engaged | Defensive 2, Disarm | |||
| Jiu Jie Bian (Nine Section Chain) | Melee-Light | +2 | 3 | Engaged | Pierce 1, Accurate 1, Ensnare 1, Unwieldy 3 | |||
| San Jie Gun (Three Section Staff) | Melee-Heavy | +2 | 4 | Engaged | Pierce 1, Accurate 1, Unwieldy 2 | |||
| Qiang (Spear) | Melee-Heavy | +3 | 3 | Engaged | Pierce 2, Accurate 1 | |||
| Fu Zi (Pole-axe) | Melee-Heavy | +3 | 3 | Engaged | Pierce 2, Vicious 2 | |||
| Ji (Polearm) | Melee-Heavy | +3 | 3 | Engaged | Cumbersome 2, Pierce 3 | |||
| Pu Dao (Staff Saber) | Melee-Heavy | +3 | 4 | Engaged | Vicious 2, Defensive 1 | |||
| Shuang Qiang (Double Spears) | Melee-Heavy | +3 | 3 | Engaged | Unwieldy 3, Pierce 1, Accurate 1, Defensive 1 | |||
| Shuang Chui (Melon Hammers) | Melee-Heavy | +4 | 3 | Engaged | Cumbersome 4, Vicious 2, Disorient 3 | |||
| Yue (Great Axe) | Melee-Heavy | +4 | 3 | Engaged | Cumbersome 3, Vicious 3, Sunder | |||
| Gong (Short bow) | Ranged | 6 | 3 | Medium | Unwieldy 2 | |||
| Nu (Repeating Crossbow) | Ranged | 5 | 2 | Medium | Unwieldy 2, Pierce 1, Prepare 1, Autofire |
Traditional Ichthorian Weapons
