Long Sword

Northern Long Sword | Bastard Sword | Hand-and-a-Half Sword

A Longsword is variant hilted weapon with a double-edged blade of around 33 to 43 in, and weighing approximately 2 lb 3 oz to 3 lb 5 oz. But the Longsword is characterized not so much by a longer blade, but by a longer grip, which indicates a weapon designed for two-handed use. Even without the longer hilt, the blade is longer than an arming sword. It can be used one-handed while mounted, but can be used with one or two hands while on foot.

It was known to first be used by the Rhonish who eventually abandoned the designs. But the Highland Clans brought the concept and forging of it home where it has been a staple of Highlander raids and bloodletting. Amongst them though it is often adorned in fanciful ways; there it is called a Claymore. In the past couple decades, the Longsword has gained popularity south of the Highlands where it has been found that it is perfectly suited for war-fighting against armored opponents.

The one-handed grip allows the longer blade to be plied from atop a horse with a shield and still strike unmounted enemies. When facing off against an armored foe or unhorsed, the shield can be discarded and the Longsword used with a technique called ‘half-swording’ where the wielder holds the hilt and the back part of the blade and uses the sword a bit like a can opener against joints in armor, giving the extra damage versus plate-type armor; but this method can be used only at close quarters. It is also used to bash a foe by turning it around and using the pommel or crossguard to hit.

History

The Long Sword, in its many expressions, descended from the Rhonish Swords-of-War wielded during the ELDERWAR. The reach allowed beasts and abominations to be fought further away from their claws and slavering muzzles. The weight of the blade and the piercing point was one of the few things which, when wielded properly, could breach the misshapen armored forms of the Elder's 'toys' that were thrown at the armies again and again.

The design was imitated by many different individuals that served alongside the Rhone oldbloods in the War. When the War ended, these smiths took the craft back to their homelands and its design continued to spread throughout the Known Lands. But the weapon was outside of its time. It was unwieldy against lightly-armored raiders and mounted combat was just being mastered in the Midlands. Too early for the advantages of the blade to become apparent. While some Swords-of-War were still made, it was only the Highlanders who venerated the design and made improvement after improvement to it though their variations included much fine engravings and adorned precious metals for status.

It was not until the rise of the Knight; the pinnacle of mounted warfare and swathed in layers of metal for protection that the Sword-of-War or its other brethren, known as Long Swords, began to make its way back into usage.

Item type

Weapon, Melee

Subtype / Model

Sword-of-War

Used by

• Sword-of-War

Weight

2-3 1/2 lbs

Dimensions

39-51 inches total length

GAME MECHANICS

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Available:
Weapon Category: Sword
Starting Skill: 10
Basic Damage: Standard
Bonus Damage: +1d6 damage when used two-handed, including half-swording
Special Function: A Longsword used two-handed gives 3 Protection points on a Partial Success. It breaks all non-sword weapons on a Tie.
Disadvantage: Any hand-held shield must be dropped to use a Longsword two-handed.
Foot or Mounted: Both for one-handed, foot for two-handed