Common Barbarian Weapons

Axe, Bearded

Cost 30 gp
Dmg (M) 1d10
Critical 19–20/x3
Weight 7 lb.
Type Slashing

DESCRIPTION

The bearded axe is a masterwork of traditional smithing, forged through a labor-intensive process that reflects both patience and cultural pride. Its head is constructed from a body of mild steel, into which a hardened carbon steel edge is forgewelded. This ancient method requires repeated heating and hammering - sometimes over a hundred heats and thousands of strikes - to properly laminate the metals into a single, resilient blade.

Because high-quality carbon steel is rare and costly, it is reserved only for the cutting edge. This practice allows smiths to stretch precious resources while still producing weapons of exceptional effectiveness. The junction between steels is often revealed through a careful etching process, creating a visible pattern along the blade that serves as both proof of craftsmanship and a quiet mark of prestige. With time and use, the oxide darkening from the etching fades, leaving behind a smoother, battle-worn finish.

The axe’s distinctive “beard” - the extended lower portion of the blade - allows for hooking shields, weapons, or limbs, making it a favored tool among warriors who rely on control as much as brute force. Its handle is typically carved from hickory and treated with linseed oil, developing a rich patina over years of use. Each axe is paired with a thick, custom-fitted sheath of vegetable-tanned leather, ensuring both protection and longevity.

LORE

Among river clans and marshland warriors, the bearded axe is more than a weapon - it is a symbol of lineage. Many axes are passed down through generations, their etched edges telling silent stories of battles fought and survived. It is said that a well-made bearded axe “remembers the hand,” growing more balanced and responsive the longer it is wielded by a single owner.

In the port districts and humid trade cities of the south, master smiths guard the secrets of proper lamination fiercely. Apprentices may spend years working bellows and hammer before ever being trusted to lay the carbon edge. A flawed weld is considered a deep shame, and such axes are often destroyed rather than sold.

Some whisper that certain etched patterns are not merely decorative but intentional - subtle sigils worked into the steel during forging. These marks are believed to attract fortune in battle or ward against the breaking of the blade, though whether this is superstition or forgotten magic depends on who you ask.

Seax (Scramaseax)

Cost 10 gp
Dmg (M) 1d6
Critical 19–20/x2
Weight 2 lb.
Type Slashing

DESCRIPTION

The seax, sometimes called a scramaseax, is a versatile blade that straddles the line between tool and weapon. Its long, single-edged blade is mounted on a simple iron tang, which extends into a grip made from wood, bone, or horn. These grips are intentionally replaceable, allowing the weapon to be maintained and adapted over time with minimal effort.

Most seaxes feature relatively short tangs, typically between 2 and 3½ inches, secured within the grip by friction, wedges, or natural adhesives. However, larger variants exist with extended tangs and longer grips, enabling two-handed use. These longer seaxes can reach lengths of 24 to 28 inches, rivaling short swords in size while retaining the straightforward construction of a knife.

The design favors efficiency over ornamentation. While some examples include simple metal fittings such as a pommel or guard, many are entirely utilitarian. The blade’s straight edge and angled tip make it equally suited for cutting, carving, and thrusting, ensuring its place as a constant companion for travelers, laborers, and warriors alike.

LORE

The seax is often called “the honest blade,” for it is as useful at the hearth as it is in a fight. In many cultures, carrying a seax marks one as a free individual - neither noble nor slave, but something in between. It is the weapon of those who must rely on themselves, whether on the road, in the wilds, or in the narrow alleys of crowded cities.

Because of its simplicity, the seax is rarely the work of a single artisan. Blades may be forged in one settlement, fitted with a grip in another, and repaired countless times along the way. Each replacement handle adds a new chapter to the weapon’s story, making no two seaxes truly alike.

There are tales of ancient seaxes that have outlived entire bloodlines, their blades worn thin but unbroken. Such weapons are said to carry a quiet resilience, embodying the stubborn endurance of those who wield them. In some circles, to gift a seax is to offer not just a tool, but a promise - that its bearer will always have the means to survive.