Quarterstaff

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[Drasil Razorfang]

Overview:

The quarterstaff is one of the most common, less-than-lethal weapons found in modern Caelereth.  Consisting of a single piece of hardwood, usually birch or oak that has been sanded down to remove imperfection and to make the surface smooth, the quarterstaff is most frequently used by the common traveler and martial weapon wielders. It is can range in length anywhere in size from slightly over a ped to five peds, one fore and in diameter it is either one or two nailsbredths.  Because of its shape, it is more difficult to kill an opponent; however anyone trained in the use of the weapon is able to bring death, given a slightly longer amount of time.  However, most users of this weapon prefer to incapitate their enemy by knocking him or her unconscious or through painful bruises to various body parts.

The weapon is used with two hands though their positioning varies based upon the unique style in which the wielder utilizes.  Most trained users prefer to keep both hands towards the middle of the staff, while less trained users may put one or both hands at the base to provide more leverage.

Physical Appearance:

The category of "the quarterstaff" can be broken down further into three smaller sub-sections.  Differences between these various groupings occur mainly in size and, in some cases, usage.  Each type is beneficial for a certain purpose or group of people.

The Halfling Quarterstaff:  Standing at a little over one ped, the Halfling quarterstaff is the smallest of all.  As its name suggests, this version of the weapon is used primarily by creatures of Halfling-sized stature such as Gnomes, Mullogs and Halflings.  It is possible for Brownies to use the staff though it often takes many to wield it.  This staff is slightly thinner than its larger counterparts at approximately one nailsbredth in diameter and is therefore frailer.  Of all three weapons, it is considered the most wieldy because of its minute size.  It should also be noted that these staves are much rarer and more expensive that their larger cousins because of the difficulties in finding wood that meets the basic requirements of manufacture.

The Quarterstaff: This version of the weapon is considered to be its standard form.  Of all three types, it is the most common as well as the cheapest.  This quarterstaff stands at approximately the same height as most humanoids at a range of two peds to three peds, one fore and is around two nailsbredths in diameter.  It is most commonly found among elves and humans, though is serves the duel purpose of acting as a longer staff for the shorter races.  It is most frequently used by travelers because it can double as a walking stick for long journeys.

The Giant's Quarterstaff:  The largest of all quarterstaffs this version is also the heaviest and the most unwieldy for most humanoids.  Unlike its smaller counterparts, this staff is difficult to use effectively because of its massive size, causing only a select few to master its use.  While it can be used by smaller races, it requires numerous individuals to lift, making it sparse among these tribes.  This staff stands taller than most humanoids, ranging anywhere from three peds, one fore to five peds one fore.  It is most commonly used, because of its size, by taller races, such as the giants, Gorbas, who can wield it with ease.  This weapon, despite its large size, is only two nailsbredths in diameter causing it to lose the rigidity found in other versions of the staff.  Developing this quarterstaff is relatively expensive as such large quantities of straight, hardwood is difficult to find and work with.

All quarterstaffs, regardless of location or type, are made completely of hardwood, sanded until all imperfections have been removed; it is smooth to the touch and is equally weighted throughout.  Almost any hardwood can be used, causing many variations of the quarterstaff to be created based upon the location at which the weapon was manufactured.  Common woods include, Arne'pheran, Ashwude, Baych, all types of Oak, and Maple.  This large variety of woods leads to many colorings.  

The creation of the quarterstaff is very simple in comparison to the grueling forging process required to make weapons consisting primarily of metal.  While with metallic weapons extensive periods of time are spent creating even the most basic weapon, this staff requires minimal effort.  While technically any straight stick picked up from the side of the road can be considered a quarterstaff, the "standard form" of the weapon requires a slight amount of work to reach completion.  After a straight, dry piece of wood is found, the process of creating the quarterstaff commences.  The stick must be tested to see if it is strong enough to act as a weapon and to see if it has the correct thickness so that it is not unwieldy or fragile.  The bark surrounding the stick must be peeled off to expose the wood on the inside.  This wood must then be sanded using a rough object, such as Arvin’s Cedar leaves to remove knots in the wood, provide a smooth surface and make it equally weighted throughout for balance.  Finishings, such as the fat of an Inja goat, can be used to make the weapon waterproof and prevent rotting.

Because of the quarterstaff’s less-than-lethal status, users looking for a more deadly weapon have developed various attachments that can be added to the basic quarterstaff to make it more dangerous.  The most common of these attachments is known as a cap.  Caps are made completely of metal and fit over the ends of the staff, causing it to deal more damage when hitting an opponent.  These extensions can be fashioned with either a spike or a blunt tip depending upon the manner in which the owner uses the staff.  However, despite the extra damage caused by these caps, they create some disadvantages which prevent the weapon from reaching its fullest potential.  The caps limit the way in which a person can fight using the weapon.  While normally the wielder can switch between using the weapon like a pole arm or a club, with a cap, the user may only use one form of combat effectively.  Also, the extra weight added by the caps fastened to the ends of the weapon throws off the balance that is treasured in the quarterstaff, making it more difficult to execute complicated maneuvers successfully.  The larger the caps, the higher the toll they take on the overall balance of the weapon.

Usage:

Because of its varying sizes, the quarterstaff is an optimal weapon for all races throughout Caelereth regardless of size.  However, unlike many other common weapons, such as the sword or the spear, it is not frequently used by soldiers, mercenaries and other professional fighters.  This lack of use probably derives from the belief that it is much more difficult to use with any skill because of its unique fighting style as well as its inability to kill quickly, rendering it in effective as an offensive weapon.  Instead, this weapon is most commonly used by travelers for defense because it not only serves as a means of defense, but easily doubles as a walking staff.  It is effective in fighting off the crude battle tactics of thieves and bandits found while journeying from place to place.  This weapon is also used for sport by some nobles as even leather armor absorbs most blows received from the weapon.

The quarterstaff’s use has spread all over the world, however, depending upon the area’s location, the popularity of the staff varies.  Most staves are found on the continent of Sarvonia as well as in northern Nyblemar.  This is because most of the location in which hardwood is present are located in these two continents.  Primary locations from which hardwood is exported are the provinces of Brendolan, Enthronia, Manthria, Sanguia, Vardynn, Xaramon, Nemeren as well as Northern Nyblemar, the Shaded Forest, the Shadowlands, Themd’lon, the Hovel Frond Forest, the wounds of Sylvan, the Forests of Cahm, the Stonefields of Peat, the Yllon Wood, the Wilshire Heath and the Heath of Wideron.

Fighting Style:  

A series of thrusts, sweeps, blocks and strikes to the knees, eyes, groin, shins, throat and temples is how the quarterstaff is most commonly used in combat.  Difficult maneuvers combining all of these aspects are often executed for the best success.  Years of training and practice are the only two tools by which a person can master the elegant combat of the quarterstaff.

However, not all have the patience or time to learn these difficult maneuvers.  Instead, they use the quarterstaff in other less difficult ways.  The first of the alternative methods is to use the staff as a club to bludgeon your opponent.  Despite its balanced wait, the quarterstaff works effectively in this manner, especially with a cap.  The weapon is grasped at one end with both hands and is swung as one would an axe.  While it is not as effective as a club or other blunt weapons, it is a decent substitute.

The weapon can also be used as a polearm, such as a spear.  This method is most effective with a spiked cap as well as against other staves, blunt weapons, axes and large swords.  In this method, two hands are used to grasp the shaft, one at the base and on in the middle.  The weapon is then thrust forward.  It is optimal for darting around clumsier weapons and is very effective when using the longest version of the staff.

History:

As one may have guessed, the history of the quarterstaff dates back to when a traveler whom has picked up a stick from the side of the road to aid him in his journey, successfully managed to defend himself from an attack by bandits using his walking staff.  As this tale spread, so did the popularity of the quarterstaff among hermits, wanderers and other travelers.  Because of the way in which it was fashioned, it was soon realized that the weapon was optimal for sport.  Little padding was required to cushion the blows and a person who could use the weapon skillfully had to be very talented.

However, despite its fame, the weapon went without a name for many years often referred to as just a big stick.  This continued until one day a lone traveler, carrying the currently nameless quarterstaff overpowered a small group of bandits.  The bandits, stripped of their weapons, begged for quarter or mercy and, much to the dismay of the traveler, he granted it because of his inability to kill his opponents using the weapon.  Thus the weapon was named the staff of quarter or quarterstaff.  

Drasil Razorfang CD

Edited by: Artimidor Federkiel at: 6/30/06 18:57

[Kalína Dalá'isyrás]

I don't know if an entry is really necessary for such a weapon.

You pick up a "stick" up off the road = Quarterstaff

No special decorations or the such. Now, "staves" are different as they tend to be more elaborate, but Drasil - quarterstaff is nothing more than what you find off the side of the road when walking from A to B.

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[Drasil Razorfang]

@ Kalina:  That is one form of a quarterstaff, however seeing as it is a weapon, I still think it deserves an entry.  There are plenty of fighting techniques involving quarterstaves.  Also, you generalization of any stick off the side of the road is a little extreme seeing as you need to find one that is weighted properly, smooth ect.  Also, just because a weapon is not elaborate does not mean that it does not deserve and entry IMHO.

Edit:  Also, back in mideval times, they were created, sold and bought from vendors, not "picked up from the side of the road"  In almost any other site, book, or game I have been to, played or read, there is an entry involving quarterstaves and they are not considered to be sticks you pick up from the side of the road.  So I ask humbly, why should that be any different here, seeing as there are proper techniques to using one as well as various qualities.

Drasil Razorfang CD

Edited by: Drasil Razorfang at: 5/30/06 19:03

[Artimidor Federkiel]

An entry on quarterstaffs makes sense if you ask me. Even though they are in general simple by design and might also be "picked up from the road", they have been and still are traditional weapons of various martial arts. As such they are more than just simple branches. The weapon might be simple, but the technique how to use it needs to be learned and mastered as well!

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[Ta`lia of the Seven Jewels]

Drasil, two things :

Please don't say, that they are usually used by monks - I don't want have them so generally bound to them.

You write, that they are non-lethal - I don't think, this is correct. They may be non-lethal if somebody just picks up a branch who doesn't know, how to use them properly. Someone trained in them can very well hit you in a way, so that you are dead soon, maybe not in a blink, but after a short time.

Please do some more research first, maybe don't just think at the  quaterstaff, but at staff weapons in general.  

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[Drasil Razorfang]

@ Talia:  For your first thing about monks, I shall remove it I shall remove it.

Second thing: I shall remove this as well

Third thing:  I do not wish to change this as I wished to create a series of staves and then, eventually a staves overview, or incorperating it into the blunt weapons section enxt time it requires an update.  Some of my staff Ideas can be found in my dev schecdule.

Drasil Razorfang CD

[Artimidor Federkiel]

Fighting monks indeed are very much a cliché coming from games primarily (where eastern traditions were pretty much exploited), while Santharian monks will focus on belief as they are supposed to. Staffs I'd say would mainly be weapons for the weaker, for those who should use them when absolutely needed to defend themselves - staffs are also good for wizards, because they have other powers, so a staff could be used for walking and for defending should everything else fail.

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[Drasil Razorfang]

@ Art:  I was planning on deving up a "wizard's" staff after this got completed.  I was then going to do a staves overview entry.

Drasil Razorfang CD

[so orril miesefer]

... Well, Armeros Monks would fight to worship IMHO, like the Ancient Mexicans that did wars to worship their war god. And would fight with staff to not kill the others (I know is potentially dangerous, but if you know how to, you can control your way of hitting and only injury. Like when you practice Martial Arts, those kick are potentially dangerous, but no one goes to kill another person in tournaments though sometimes KO's happen)

Then, wizard staves can work very well, and if you "enchant" them to amplify magical effect better, because that would be a nice "diplome" for Ximaxian graduations...

What's my magic? My treasure. What's my God? My freedom. My law? the strength and the wind. My mother country the sky So Orril Miés'éfer, Sky master.

Edited by: so orril miesefer  at: 5/31/06 2:03

[Drasil Razorfang]

@ orril:  Any magicaly enchanted item is banned or would be considered an artifact.  The wizards staff would just have nice carvings on it, and maybe a crystal of quartz at teh top.  Varying degrees of power would come based on the various factors.  Overall, they would just look impressive.

Drasil Razorfang CD

[Stormraven]

Hello Drasil, just one quick comment.
Quarterstaves can be instantly lethal. A blow to the throat will cause near instantaneous death from choking in addition to the fact that a significant blow can cause rupture of the corotid artery and or jugular veins in the throat. Also a solid blow to the back of the neck is likely to cause severe spinal injury if not outright severing the spinal cord. A person well versed in the use of a staff would be very capable of this type of blow. Also I think that they are not just for weaker people. Some people may not want to carry a metal weapon for various reasons i.e. religion or local laws.
A great example of quarterstaff use by a rather big and brawny guy can be found in the film beastmaster.  

[Marvin Cerambit]

Quote:@ orril: Any magicaly enchanted item is banned or would be considered an artifact. The wizards staff would just have nice carvings on it, and maybe a crystal of quartz at teh top. Varying degrees of power would come based on the various factors. Overall, they would just look impressive.

  I wouldn't know how a staff would help you casting anyway (other then the wood or a piece of it's decoration being used like a reagent).

Marvin Cerambit ~ Do not tease my Warg, because you are crunchy and tasteful

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Edited by: Marvin Cerambit  at: 5/31/06 11:41

[so orril miesefer]

well... maybe with Xeua magic you can make an object that activates ounia under certain situation (I.e when thouwed, moved in certain way, a keyword...)

What's my magic? My treasure. What's my God? My freedom. My law? the strength and the wind. My mother country the sky So Orril Miés'éfer, Sky master.

[Drasil Razorfang]

Orril, this weapon you wish for me to develop would fall under the list of weapons that are banned from being deved.

Drasil Razorfang CD

[xerampelinae deicida]

We could have several different types of quarterstaffs. Besides having ones that were just wood we could have metal or dragon bone staffs.

We also have various races of various sizes that would use different length.

Different cultures would have varying techniques both for using and making quarterstaffs.

A live branch would make a much better staff then a dead one.

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