Common Barbarian Weapons

Axe, Bearded

The Bearded Axe is traditionally forged using a coal forge, hammer, and anvil. The axe is forged of mild steel with a carbon steel edge forgewelded in, true to ancient tradition. This is an extremely complex and time-consuming process which can take up to one hundred heats and several thousand hammer blows.

Even though high-quality steel can be found in the hands of many clans, it is still quite rare, extremely expensive and produced in small quantities. It was for this reason that carbon steel is only used in the cutting edge, allowing for more axes to be forged with the coveted steel.

To show that contrast between the mild steel and carbon steel, the Bearded Axe’s edge is etched. This etching is a stamp of quality, revealing that the axe is laminated and correctly forged according to ancient tradition. The oxide that forms during etching gradually fades with use.

The Bearded Axe features a hickory handle treated with linseed oil stain to develop a fine patina and comes with an extra-thick, custom-made sheath sewn of vegetable tanned leather.

Axe, Bearded: Cost 30, Dmg (M) 1d10, Critical 19-20 x3, Weight 7, Type Slashing

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Seax

Also called a scramaseax, the seax is an incredibly efficient weapon as well as a tool for common usage. The blade of the knife terminates in an iron tang by which the grip was attached. The grip is made of perishable material such as wood, horn or bone, and is designed to be replaced if damaged. The majority of these knives have quite short tangs, between 2" and 3.5" long, although occasionally made much longer, suggesting the weapon is suitable to be gripped in two hands. The tang is usually a plain iron bar tapering towards the end. The grip is bored out to hold the tang which is held in place by friction, often aided by softwood wedges or glue. Occasionally the knives have metal hilt fittings, either a pommel or both a lower-guard and pommel, and are usually 24" to 28" in length (effectively a short sword, but still considered a knife).

Seax: Cost 10, Dmg (M) 1d6, Critical 19-20 x2, Weight 2, Type Slashing