Sefdaanian Ethnography Chapter 20 - Warfare

Just as in contemporary societies a person can be conversant with, if not proficient with, more than one weapon, so is this true with the Sefdaanian Peoples. Still each of the Loquent Peoples specializes in one type of weapon.
All the Peoples carry daggers (d̬otűvlo) about their persons when they travel. This serves as both a tool and a weapon. The Sefdaanian civilization is pre-Iron Age, so the blades are made of bronze. These blades are made by the Lithans with a tang (laᵹsa̋iro). The blade is then inserted into hilts (ke̋ldo) made by the other Peoples.
The Pyrans make their hilts out of reindeer antler, the Hydorans and Humans out of bone, the Xylans out of wood, and the Lithans out of bronze.
Those who cannot afford a dagger, must rely on flint or obsidian as a tool. These daggers become heirlooms (xeiɱe̋ko) which are passed on to heirs.
Each of the Peoples makes sheaths (ɱą̋ƶo) for their daggers out of their favorite leather.

The Ethrans

An Ethran’s weapon is the “magic” energy (se̋ȝa) that he or she can summon from the earth. He or she carries a short staff made of oak when walking, and it can certainly be used as a weapon, but it is mainly for walking assistance and for use as a tool. His or her dagger sheath is attached to the sash (meðbą̋o).

The Pyran’s weapon is the sling (kı̋fIo). The sling is made of wood and the sling cord (kifpe̋no) of braided reindeer hair. The sling pouch (kifpą̋do) is made from reindeer leather. The missiles (he̋ȝo) are of two types. They may be no more than stones rounded by the river (kifta̋ino). Or they may be the more elaborate clay missiles (kifðe̋iho). If needed, both of these types can be heated so as to set fire to thatch.
An accessory item is a pouch that can be hung from the belt. The missiles are put in the pouch and the sling itself fits in a slit on the back of the pouch.
There is also a staff sling (baxkı̋fIo) which can hurl a missile much farther. A Pyran does not normally carry one of these but, if need be, a leather loop can be attached to the belt into which the staff sling may be inserted.
Although it can be used as a weapon, the primary use of the sling is to dissuade predators from attacking the reindeer herds.

The Hydoran’s weapon is the blowgun (ɱęġőro). They make them from the hard rushes that grow on the lake shores. The darts (ha̋iso) are made from wooden splinters and the fletching from cattail hair. They measure about three feet long and are carried slung across the back. A quiver (t̬őlo) woven from rushes is used to carry the darts. The juice from the root of the hellebore (keme̋ri) is used to make the darts poisonous.

The Human’s weapon is the bow (ḷőmo) and arrow (nőro). Of course, they serve another purpose in killing game. Humans are expert archers from horseback. Using a bola (xőslo), Humans can bring down bigger game like wisents (ɱisőnte), aurochs (ta̋ure) and giant deer (vre̋nðe), which can then be killed from a safe distance with arrows. The bow is a straight self-bow and can be made from maple, ash, elm, or oak. The bowstring (ǧı̋ȝo) is made of sinew. Arrowheads are made from flint or obsidian, hafted on to the shaft with sinew. The fletchings are made from feathers and glued on to the shaft.

The Xylan’s weapon is the short staff, much longer and thicker than the ones used by the Ethrans. Since they have not succumbed to temptation and are vegetarians, they are safe from predators. And it is the foolish person who would pick a fight with a Xylan. Xylans, though, have to be on the lookout for the monstrous clones of Tseliu. The myth is that, when all the Xylans have been slain, the world will come to an end. And one has already been slain, leaving 99.

The Lithan’s weapon is the bronze double-bladed battle axe (aǧe̋slo). The axe haft is made of a sturdy wood, such as oak or ash. The haft is protected from being cut by three bronze langets (áȝesdőlᵹo) that run the length of the haft.
Because the use of the battle axe results in close combat, the Lithans also carry shields (kı̨̋to). These shields are round and are made from hardwood. They are slightly concave on the bearer’s side and are covered with rawhide. A bronze band protects the rim from damage. There is also a bronze boss with a spike in the center.
With the exception of the Lithans, the women of the other Peoples are also proficient in the use of their respective weapons. The Lithan women, however, are proficient in the use of the bola and render valuable aid to the men by incapacitating the enemy.