Cack-handed Crossbows

From: mob <mob_at_bayswater.schnet.edu.au>
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 12:38:18 +0500


G'day all,

Cack-handed Crossbows

G'day all,

Benedict said:

>[Left-handed Sun Domers controling the Harpoon, draconic left-handedness,
>Yamsur]
>
>Just how often do giant sea monsters swim up the Zola Fel, anyway?
>And what real danger would they pose to Sun County? Move away from the
>banks, and you would be safe.
>
>A giant crossbow might be useful for attacking flying dragons, however.

I think you're on the money here, and I also suspect the giant harpoon's original purpose had nothing to do with aquatic sea monsters. It's much more likely that it was constructed when the Sun Domers purged themselves of EWF/Draconic influences, to protect themselves from draconic retribution. In fact, it was probably originally located at the newly-built Sun Dome Temple, and only moved to the current site many years (centuries?) later when the fear of dragons had passed from people's minds. Perhaps a huge sea monster did wreak a path of destruction up the river (sinking river craft, wrecking settlements on the banks, eating people and livestock) and the then Count recognised the great spear throwing machine that had sat pointing uselessly at the sky for long would be handy to get rid of it. Eventually a town sprung up around the new site and was named with true Sun Domer bloody-minded literalness, "Harpoon". I doubt sea monsters are often a problem, but the device serves a deterrent against up-river incursions by pirates and the like, and helps the Sun Domers regulate and impose a tariff on the passing river trade.

>But perhaps not so useful when controlled by left-handers.

Indeed! And for an example of their incompetence in action see Jaxarte Whyded's account of a trip down the river to Raus Fort in Tales #6 or on my web-page (they do somewhat better in my scenario "Mad Prax Beyond Sun Dome", also on my web-page).

Cheers,

MOB PS Benedict, I'd be interested to hear what your ideas on Yamsur are in all this!



MICHAEL O'BRIEN
  Research Associate, Bayswater Primary School   Learning Technologies Navigator School, Bayswater, Victoria, Australia   Telephone: +61-3-9721-3755 Fax: +61-3-9720-8986   <mob_at_bayswater.schnet.edu.au>
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  9 Parker Street, Richmond 3121, Victoria, Australia   Home Telephone: +61-3-9428-9048


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