From the archeological notebook of Archon Niniri Niri.
Weaponry:
The Charred Axe: A fairly standard war axe, a form of weaponry used by both armed forces and rebelling peasantry since time immemorial. The ‘charred’ segment of this weapon’s name is fairly obviously a reference to the fire motif set into the axe’s cheek. The exact significance of this weapon is difficult to discern, as fire has a somewhat complex relationship with Gridania. Arson is one of the most harshly prosecuted crimes in the city-state, in no small part due to the extreme risk posed by it upon the Twelveswood. This may have been seized from an arsonist or danger to the Twelveswood by a former member of House Dartancours.
The Heart of House d’Arlendre: An unusual conjurers staff, this weapon belonged to a member of House d’Arlendre before finding its way to Haukke Manor, likely specifically Lady Cliaie d’Arlendre, a fallen scion of the noble house that was imprisoned within the Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak.
The Heart Snatchers: A common pair of daggers in terms of design, equipped with cutting edges but primarily specialized for a stabbing point. It is difficult to trace these specific weapons, but their catalogued name, ‘heart snatchers’ may imply their ownership by a particularly dashing or roguish member of House Dartancours. They are certainly ornate enough for that to be the case.
The Inquisitor’s Tuck: An interesting and unique sword, this weapon has a very ornate yet small crossguard and a broad blade. The name ‘inquisitor’ clearly establishes this weapon as originating from the Holy See of Ishgard, where it likely would have been used by those dispatched by the See in rooting out heresy. How exactly it ended up in the possession of House Dartancours is unclear, but it may have to do with both Ishgard and Gridania having a wildwood elezen aristocracy.
Etymology Notes: This is, put plainly, not a tuck. A tuck (or estoc) is a form of sword with a hilt suitable for both single and two-handed grips and a long blade with a piercing point but not a cutting edge. It is likely named that merely for diversity amongst weapon names.
Joukil’s Guile: This is a composite bow, a weapon that incorporates both wood and other materials to maximize certain factors of the bow’s performance. Composite bows are particularly difficult to make, and this one seems to employ chitin or shell of some kind alongside the standard wood. It seemingly once belonged to Joukil Halfmoor, an archer of some infamy that was once imprisoned within Toto-Rak. Similar to the Heart of House D’arlendre, it isn’t entirely clear how the Dartancours managed to get their hands on this weapon, but it may have been as the gaol was being decommissioned.
The Pupil’s Leather Grimoire: A common class of books, the pupil’s books are tomes bound in aetherically conductive metals that have been commonly promoted for their ability to quicken elemental energies, including by numerous instructors within the Studium. This particular iteration does maintain significant metal aspects, but uses leather as a base which may indicate a slightly lesser status than the fully metallic grimoires.
The Tenfinger Tallstaff: Staves such as these are useful tools for thaumaturges, both because their increased length allows for greater channeling of elemental energies, as well as their ability to be used as a crutch or even melee weapon if needed. Although one’s instinct may be to link this staff to the infamous Baderon Tenfingers, now a guide to Gridania’s adventuring youth, it likely instead lies with the criminal Tataba Tenfingers. Tataba was, of course, a lalafellin criminal imprisoned with the Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak. Although we know very little information about Tataba, we can use Baderon to figure out some information about him. Baderon earned his surname Tenfingers for being a skilled mercenary, which may imply that Tataba was a mercenary in kind. Perhaps he did work for House Dartancours once.
The Tidesplitter: A particularly unwieldy polearm, this is a classic lance which was used primarily to knock enemy riders from their mount but has been adapted since by the lancers guild as a more standard weapon. This weapon likely belonged to Ser Aucheforne of the High Tide. Aucheforne was a false knight who was a member of a criminal organization named the Zer’maat Five. After his release from the custody of Gridania he employed a blight of slugs to devastate Gridania’s rye crop while also attempting to sell Gridanian citizens Vylbrandian rye at a vastly marked up price. Some reports state that he was slain by adventurers on Vylbrand for this very same crime.
The Unbreakable Knuckles: Simple fist weapons commonly called knuckles, these are just metal bands that turn a fist strike from stunning to fatal, and are often studded with spikes or barbs. These may be from Haukke’s armory.
The Waning Sun Pelta: This shield, found within Haukke, is difficult to track down specifically but seems to be from the warmer parts of Eorzea, and may hold some significance to the faith of Azeyma.
Leave a Reply