Sefdaanian Ethnography Chapter 20 - Warfare

Pronunciation table

Just as in contemporary societies a person can be conversant with, if not proficient with, more than one weapon, so is this true with the Sefdaanian Peoples. Still each of the Loquent Peoples specializes in one type of weapon.
All the Peoples carry daggers (d̬iȝɪ̋no) about their persons when they travel. This serves as both a tool and a weapon. The Sefdaanian civilization is pre-Iron Age, so the blades are made of bronze (omı̋ȝo). These blades are made by the Lithans with a tang (laƣsa̋iro). The blade is then inserted into hilts (ke̋ldo) made by the other Peoples. The Pyrans make their hilts out of reindeer antler, the Hydorans and Humans out of bone, the Xylans out of wood, and the Lithans out of bronze.
Those who cannot afford a dagger, must rely on flint (aaþta̋a̋ino) or obsidian (veðta̋a̋ino) as a tool. These daggers become heirlooms (xeim̃e̋ko) which are passed on to heirs.
Each of the Peoples makes sheaths (m̃a̋a̋go) for their daggers out of their favorite leather.
With the exception of the Lithans, the women of the Peoples are proficient in the use of their respective weapons.

An Ethran’s weapon is the "magic" energy (se̋ȝa) that he or she can summon from the earth. He or she carries a short staff (ba̋xlo) made of oak when walking, and it can certainly be used as a weapon, but it is mainly for walking assistance and for use as a tool.
His or her dagger sheath is attached to the sash (meðba̋a̋o).

The Pyran’s weapon is the spear (ṡűno). It is constructed of a wooden haft (se̋e̋po) and a bone or antler head (a̋iṡo), or flint where available. An atlatl (ȝe̋e̋lo) is used to give the spear more energy.
The Pyrans also have the sling (ke̋ifIo). The sling is made of wood and the sling cord (keifpe̋no) of braided reindeer hair. The missiles (he̋ȝo) are of two types. They may be no more than stones rounded by the river (keifta̋a̋ino). Or they may be the more elaborate clay missiles (keifðe̋iho). If needed, both of these types can be heated so as to set fire to thatch.
An accessory item is the sling pouch (keifpa̋a̋do), made from reindeer leather, that can be hung from the belt. The missiles are put in the pouch and the sling itself fits in a slit on the back of the pouch.
There is also a staff sling (baxke̋ifIo) which can hurl a missile much farther. A Pyran does not normally carry one of these but, if need be, a leather loop can be attached to the belt into which the staff sling may be inserted.
Although it can be used as a weapon, the primary use of the sling is to dissuade predators from attacking the reindeer herds.

The Hydoran’s weapon is the blowgun (m̃eeɠőro). They make them from the hard rushes that grow on the lake shores. The darts (ha̋iso) are made from wooden splinters and the fletching from cattail hair. They measure about a foot and a half long and are carried slung across the back. A quiver (t̬őlo) woven from rushes is used to carry the darts. The juice from the white hellebore (Veratrum album) or the black false hellebore (Veratrum nigrum) is used to make the darts poisonous.

The Human’s weapon is the bow (l̨őmo) and arrow (nőro). Of course, they serve another purpose in killing game. Humans are expert archers from horseback. Using the bolas (xőslo), Humans can bring down bigger game like wisents (m̃isőnte), aurochs (ta̋ure) and giant deer (műűne), which can then be killed from a safe distance with arrows. The bow is a straight self-bow and can be made from maple, ash, elm, or oak. The bowstring (ǧı̋ȝo) is made of sinew (iva̋lo). Arrowheads are made from flint or obsidian, hafted on to the shaft (se̋e̋po) with sinew. The fletchings are made from feathers and glued on to the shaft.

The Xylan’s weapon is the quarterstaff (mezba̋xlo), much longer and thicker than the ones used by the Ethrans. Since they have not succumbed to temptation and are vegetarians, they are safe from predators. And it is the foolish person who would pick a fight with a Xylan. Xylans, though, have to be on the lookout for the monstrous clones of Tseliu. The myth is that, when all the Xylans have been slain, the world will come to an end. And one has already been slain, leaving 99.

The Lithan’s weapon is the bronze double-bladed battle axe (aǧe̋slo). The axe haft is made of a wood, such as oak or ash. The haft is protected from being cut by three bronze langets (áȝesdőlo) that run the length of the haft.
Because the use of the battle axe results in close combat, the Lithans also carry shields (kı̋ı̋to). These shields are round and are made from hardwood. They are slightly concave on the bearer’s side and are covered with rawhide. A bronze band protects the rim from damage. There is also a bronze boss (kőőfo) with a spike in the center.
The Lithan women do not use the axes. However, they are proficient in the use of the bolas and render valuable aid to the men by incapacitating the enemy.