Sarissas
At 12 feet in length, the Zuni sarissas typically give their wielders an advantage in terms of reach, but at the cost of dexterity. In Thunder Valley, they are ideally suited to deal with the large-sized animals that inhabit the region. The iron head of the weapon and bronze butt-spike combine to provide utility at both ends of its shaft. When planted in the ground, the butt-spike anchors the sarissa in place, allowing it to effectively meet a charging attack. When wielded dynamically, the butt-spike helps to balance out the weight of the weapon's tip and ponderous length.
While typically wielded from a standing position, the most skilled of the Zuni are capable of using the weapon while mounted. In modern times, this technique is used almost exclusively for hunting. There are several points in the Kingdom's history, however, where formations of Zuni cavalry, sometimes numbering in the thousands, have broken enemy battle lines through the use of their sarissas.
The Urumi Sword
Half whip, half sword, the urumi is an intimidating and deadly weapon in the hands of a trained wielder. The number of blades can vary between one and five, with blade lengths typically ranging between four and six feet. Whether a person is a swordsmith looking to be trained on urumi forging techniques, or a warrior who wishes to become proficient in its unique combat style, the general rule is to budget for twice the amount of time it would take to master the more familiar sabers and long swords.
Hook Guns
The hook guns of the Kingdom were developed as a more mobile, more rapid-fire version of the cannons used in the royal infantry. Efficient hook gunners, with favorable weather, could function as a one-person operation, although most hook gunners used an assistant to help with the reloading process. Commonly used as part of a location's static defense, the hook guns provided a nice complement to the firepower of the infantry's cannons.
Once loaded and nestled into its hook, the weapon's ponderous weight worked to its advantage, making it stable to aim and fire. In battle simulations, the hook gun teams could achieve 75% accuracy for targets at 100 yards. In actual combat, this number typically dropped to around 50%, with terrain and weather diminishing that number along with the stress of performing in a live conflict. In the Kingdom, gunsmithing has become the most sought after specialty in blacksmithing, putting gunsmithing masters in a position to name their own price for service.