The White Tower Organization » org info http://whitetower.org Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:42:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 Warders Org: The Practice Yard http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-org-the-practice-yard/ http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-org-the-practice-yard/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:30:05 +0000 WT Org http://whitetower.org/?p=169 Practice Yard

A little way brought him to a large expanse of bare ground, the earth beaten hard, at least fifty paces across and nearly twice as long. At intervals around it under the trees stood wooden stands holding quarterstaffs, and practice swords made of strips of wood bound loosely together, and a few real swords and axes and spears.

Spaced across the open ground, pairs of men, most stripped to the waist, flailed at each other with more practice swords. Some moved so smoothly it almost seemed they danced with one anohter, flowing from stance to stance, storke to counterstroke in continuous motion. — The Dragon Reborn, Scouting and Discoveries, Chap. 24 pg. 280 pb (Robert Jordan)

Philosophies of Combat

  1. The Flame and Void – Discipline, strength, and emotionless movements. The body is forged into a weapon through the will of your mind. By shunning emotion and detaching from the world, one becomes powerful through precision of forms, discipline of the body, and absence of intruding thoughts and emotion. The warrior becomes true to the blade and cold to the surrounding environment.
  2. The Spring – Relaxed spring, passion, and creative mental outlook. By embracing the emotions you live life to its fullest. You become passionate and fight with emotional content. Not fears, hate, rage, love, or anger, but rather with the strength we as a race get from the emotions we are born with. Creativity springs from the instincts of survival, energy is derived from both the plus and negative. For the body to be strong the mind must be in tune with the spirit and body, harmony is achieved through a passion for life.

Sword Forms

Here is a listing of some sword forms found in the Wheel of Time books. If you see any that may be wrong or have any additions to this list please contact Matalina.

Beginner Forms
Leopard in the Tree A preliminary form, begun with both hands on the hilt of the sword, knees bent, and leaning forward in a ready position. This form is used to prepare for Unfolding the Fan or another such drawing technique.
Unfolding the Fan The exact opposite of Folding the Fan. Can be used as an opener, since this form can unsheathe the sword and stroke at the same time. Can also be used if caught off guard or in an awdward position.
Folding the Fan The sword sheathing technique. The blade is smoothly swung around from guard stance and sheathed, all in one motion
Lion on the Hill A basic guard stance, with the sword held at shoulder height ready to battle.
Arc of the Moon A simple slash, meant to take off an opponent’s head. Probably begins at midbody level, arcs to neck, and ends back at guard stance
Intermediate Forms
The Boar Rushes Down the Mountain A verticle slash, but one that can alter course in midswing quickly. Starts high and ends low. Try this with Tower of Morning
The Courtier Taps his Fan A quick, powerful overhand blow, meant to split the head. A good move for anyone to have in his repetoire.
The Creeper Embraces the Oak A slow, circling stance. The blade goes from high to low and back to constantly offer a new threat and to guard against others. Forms to use out of this: The Falling Leaf, Lightning of the Three Prongs.
The Falcon Stoops An abbreviated version of The Kingfisher Takes a Silverback. A quick overhand thrust, returning to a guard position just as quickly.
The Falling Leaf A more exaggerated and slower version of The Boar Rushes Down the Mountain. Starting high, the blade sweeps back and forth before reaching its lowest point. Can be used to parry effectively against multiple opponents, or just one. Move from this straight into The River Undercuts the Bank, and you’ve got an effective pair.
The Grapevine Twines A circular motion when blades are locked, used to disarm an opponent.
The Heron Spreads its Wings The operational version of Heron Wading in the Rushes. A tighter cut, concentrated in one sector of the arc of the sword.
Heron Wading in the Rushes IMPORTANT: This form should only be used for practicing balance. It is possible to use this form in combat, but it is highly likely you will receive your opponent’s weapon in your chest before you take his head. A horizontal, pivoting slash done on one foot. Begun at shoulder or head height.
Hummingbird Kisses the Honeyrose A quick thrust in the face. Will at least deter an opponent, and will usually kill a charging opponent outright. Blade should start from shoulder height, though it may be performed from any level less quickly.
The Kingfisher Takes a Silverback Begun while the sword is at shoulder height or higher, a downward stab for the abdomen. Begun when the sword is lower than shoulder height, a downward stab meant to cripple a leg or the groin.
Leaf Floating in the Breeze A horizontal guard position with a form similar to The Falling Leaf. The blade will move up and down according to the threat while moving horizontally to offer new threats. A good basic form. Attacks from this position should include Lightning of Three Prongs and Lizard in the Thornbush.
Lightning of Three Prongs Beginning from a basic stance like Lion on the Hill, a thrust that can either continue as a thrust or slash to either side. Can also be used to parry.
Low Wind Rising Can be done from almost any stance even sitting. A diagonal slash, beginning low and rising cleanly. May be used to return to a guard stance after a form such as The Grapevine Twines or Lightning of Three Prongs.
Moon Rises Over the Water A vertical arc after a horizontal, tentative slash. The blade should begin and end in the same position near the waist.
Parting the Silk A more controlled slash, probably used as a precision block or strike. Directed at the abdomen, a good move to draw first blood or inflict nonlethal damage to an opponent.
Ribbon in the Air A horizontal slash that may change direction up or down at the tail end. Should be begun just below chest thrust. Both feet should be used in this form, unlike Heron forms.
The River Undercuts the Bank Can be done from a kneeling or standing position. A horizontal slash, used to disembowel or behead.
The Swallow Takes Flight Basically, Low Wind Rising followed by a short thrust. The form is angled more toward the opponent, though, so that the opening slash is more a guard for the thrust.
The Swallow Rides the Air The usual followup move to The Swallow Takes Flight, though it does not need to be done that way. A fast, short swiping motion that won’t behead someone but might slit their throat.
Tower of Morning A verticle slash, starting low and ending high. I’d pair this one with Board Rushes Down the Mountain or The Courtier Taps His Fan.
Advanced Forms
Apple Blossoms in the Wind A versatile technique, intended for use against an ambush by multiple opponents. The blade is held low, but ready for use in a number of strike forms. Keep loose and move slowly.
Bundling Straw Several quick chest-level thrusts, followed by an arc and a paired return arc that should return the blade to a guard stance. Try this against a quarterstaff opponent.
The Cat Dances on the Wall A feinting, tentative series of short slashes, thrusts, and parries. The swordsman must have good wrists and quick feet for this to be effective. Useful for buying time.
Cat on Hot Stand A faster, less tentative version of The Cat Dances on the Wall. Better for multiple opponents.
Lizard in the Thornbush Used expressly against two opponents. One thrust to the chest, then pivot and kneel with either a thrust or a slash, usually a thrust. Good mid-level technique; most veteran-level soldiers have mastered this form.
Stones Falling from the Cliff The medium difficulty version of Boar Rushes Down the Moutain. A good mainstay of a battle, this form is useful for both parrying and attacking. The sword should begin at least at shoulder height and come down.
Striking the Spark A rapid series of powerful overhand blows, best begun on the return swing of a slash like Low Wind Rising or The Heron Spreads Its Wings. If you’ve got stamina this can win a battle for you.
Thistledown Floats on the Whirlwind A short-range jumping spin-swipe, used for beheading. Best if done by surprise. An opening move in most cases. The sword should not move more than a foot or so; the main force is provided by the spin of the body. The blade should be close to the body, approximately chest high.
Twisting in Wind For use in a tight situation, when one is outnumbered. A quick, continual rotation of the body, using slashes and short thrusts to counter or attack as the situation dictates.
Water Flows Downhill A more complicated form of The Boar Rushes Down the Moutain. This form can and will change direction in midstroke; only the more advanced swordsmen use this form. Like its name, it takes the easiest route from high to low, avoiding contact with the other weapon while seeking its target.
Whirlwind on the Mountain A form of Thistledown Floats on the Whirlwind, except done while remaining on the ground. Can be modified for use for striking uphill or downhill simply by changing the angle of the spin.
Wind and Rain Another complicated form. Begun with either Low Wind Rising or Parting the Silk, this form follows throught with multiple short thrusts or quick overhead blows.
The Wood Grouse Dances Similar to the Cat Dances on the Wall, but from a more stationary point. Mainly to feel out an enemy, more than to do serious harm.
Specialized Forms
Sheathing the Sword More of a concept than a sword form, this is used when what you can gain is greater than or equal to what you may lose in the process of gaining it. This might be using Heron Wading in the Rushes like Rand Al’Thor, or it might be using Lizard in the Thornbush to take down two major opponents when you know a third, less important one is coming up behind you.
]]> http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-org-the-practice-yard/feed/ 0 The Pen and the Sword: Warders Org Newsletter June 2002 http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/the-pen-and-the-sword-warders-org-newsletter-june-2002/ http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/the-pen-and-the-sword-warders-org-newsletter-june-2002/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:27:50 +0000 WT Org http://whitetower.org/?p=167 Warder News

The Warders have undergone a drastic change in the resent months. Dragonmount.com has been continuously working on updating to the 6th version of its site, and with it changes are being made to each organization.

The Warders have gone from a Role Playing Organization to solely community, as have all other organization. To combat the lack of activity in the down time many of the Warder staff have begun to post interesting activities.

Segurant has begun posting a number of interesting Book Discussions as well as a very active thread on a weekly basis called Celebrity Death Match. He’s pitted Fades against Ring Wraiths, Buffy and Faith against Chiad and Bain and this weeks is Rand versus Luke Skywalker. We look forward to seeing more of his Death Matches.

Aristos is conducting polls to see what games people at Dragonmount most like to play. He’s in the process of setting up some Diablo II games as well as Baldur’s Gate. We look forward to seeing them.

Matalina has a number of projects going on, a silly essay contest, icon contests and a puzzle contest. All of which were rather poorly participated in, but we hope they will make an appearance again in when there is more activity. Matalina is also trying to get started a Writer’s Workshop.

These are a few things that have been going on and we hope to see more in the future.

Dragonmount News

Dragonmount.com is undergoing some drastic changes. The message boards and database designed by the Dragonmount.com staff are currently under construction and the members are participating in their activites on Temporary boards hosted by Ezboard.com. These boards are ad free thanks to those members of Dragonmount.com who contributed to the funding of the boards.

Phoenix has struck a bargain with his wife. If the members of Dragonmount.com can pull together $500.00 (US), he will produce Dragonmount.com site content in 7 days of the money being raised. At least check the half way point was crossed. Please know that this will not mean that Dragonmount.com will be fully function, it means that it will have content on the pages in the new DM6 format, however, boards, database and things being reconstructed from scratch will not be ready for that time. The Dragonmount.com staff is working as hard as they can to make the boards better than ever and the time it takes to do this and have a full time job as well as a life outside of Dragonmount is very small. Please be patient with the staff, they are not going to forsake you.

Dragonmount 6.0 will be making it’s way to you this month. Actually on June 3rd the doors will be open to the static content. Databases and boards will not be done however.

Wheel of Time News

The title for book ten has been announced. The new book will be entitled “Crossroads of Twilight”. It’s release date is set for sometime in November of 2002. Want to read the jacket cover text and see the cover? Check out Dragonmount.com for more information.

Other Organization News

The Ogier Organization at Dragonmount.com has a new Org Leader. Congratulations to Emmie. Also the Black Tower has a new Org Leader. Congratulations to Dramon. The Band of the Red Hand also has a new Org Leader. Congratulations to Tenan. All Three will do well in bringing their Organizations into the new Dragonmount 6 format. Good luck and God Speed.

The Sea Folk have launched a campaign to get more members.

Hawkin’s Epitaph

Once a great King,
I have nothing to show,
Now, above me, flowers grow,
If not for my brave men and me,
The nation I rest under wouldn’t be free,

Outnumbered and in hopelessness, I lead my men to battle,
My sword raised, I scream in despair,
As I witness every saddle,
But my very own bare,
I am the only man left save a spearman,
My horse rushes him like a wild demon,
The sword in my hand finds his throat,
I look to the sky feeling no pain,
The spear in me saying I have been slain,
Around me, my blood forms a moat,
In darkness and silence I am cloaked,
The field of battle has been blood soaked,

Dry tears I now weep,
From my peaceful sleep,
For me and my men,
Who no one can remember,
The battle took place just two months ago, December,
I realize now that my death didn’t matter,
It just made the purses of others fatter,
The fruits my efforts and labor bore,
Are not appreciated anymore,
As I listen from eternal slumber,
It does me good to wonder,
If society knows the end is near,
If so, let them be full of fear,
I bow my head, and dread,
That all their sins will be forgiven,
In the peaceful darkness at the end.

Written by Hawkin (Hawkin’s looking for comments if you have any constructive criticism please email him at Hawkin@bolt.com.

The Falling Aiel

Let me tell you a tale
I’ve a tale I must tell
It’s the tale of an Aiel
of an Aiel that fell.
Of an Aiel that fell
and still falls to this day
coz gravity’s constant
it’s a bugger that way
So he falls ever downward
in the space between threads
“Take care on the platform”
the dragon had said.
But the others had jostled
they had pushed him and bumped
Now he falls ever downward
still expecting a thump
But this place has no bottom
it has no up nor down
so he falls inside outwards
he falls round and round
He plumets relentlessly
and sometimes he sings
then he’s silent for ages
in this place between things
He recalls every second,
every moment of life
in very clear detail
minute and precise
He remembers quite clearly
the absence of floor
when some joker on the platform said
“There’s room for one more”
So the Aiel keeps falling
through the hunger and thirst
and the mind-crushing loneliness
that’s probably the worst
Well that, and the boredom
there’s just nothing to do
except drop infinitum
like an unwanted poo
So he recites his times-tables
counts fingers and toes
outside of the pattern
where nobody goes
Then strangely he finds
as he falls in the black
that one’s mind does expand
as ones senses contract.
He finds comprehension
knowledge seeks him unbidden
a high plane of existence
where answers are hidden
And the universe speaks
to this one Aiel that listens
whispers meanings and truths
of ends and beginnings
Of atoms and molecules
of destiny and fate
light and dark, good and evil
now and then, love and hate
And he falls – revelation
the answer to ALL
the meaning to everything
for the Aiel that falls
He cries “Merciful Light!”
“It’s as simple as that?”
“With this knowledge I can escape!”
“With this knowlesge I can…”
SPLAT!
In this place between things
with no up and no down
I lied about one thing
as the Aiel just found
In this space between threads
with no light and no sound
he discovered the hard way
the presence of ground.

Written by Someone Long Ago

Celebrity Death Match

Week 1: Ring Wraith vs Fade

Close Matchup Ring Wraith wins.

Week 2: Buffy & Faith vs Chain & Bain

Slaughtered Buffy & Faith win.

Week 3: Luke Skywalker vs Rand

Slaughter Rand wins.

Week 4: Lan vs Strider & Brigitte vs Legolos

Slaughter Lan and Legolos win

Trivia Questions

Thrones

  1. Who sits on the Diamond Throne?
  2. What nation’s throne is called the Sun Throne?
  3. Who is the heir to the Lion Throne?

Last Months Answers

  1. No Questions asked last month

Book Discussions

Montly Book Discussion Contest

Submit your topic and your topic may be one of the topics discussed during the following months.

Last Months Topics

Over the last few months there have been some very intense Warder Topics being discussed by the Org. To see the full debate over why a Warder is considered the best check the Warders Board for the thread.

Also prior to that discussion there was another Warder Topic about Why Aes Sedai started bonding? There are some definate ideas there, but until Robert Jordan tells us, it’s up to our speculation.

Annual Letter to Robert Jordan

Yet again Matalina is hosting a letter to Robert Jordan. She is planning on writing a letter to him which will contain all of your letters you submit to her. She will send them out in at the end of July. If you are interested in sending Robert Jordan a Letter, Email her your letter to matalina@dragonmount.com. Spell check before you send it, she will do no editing.

Also Segurant is collecting Warder Questions to ask RJ in this same letter. If you have a question about Warders you wish to know email Segurant at segurant4@yahoo.com and he will compile the list of questions to send to Robert Jordan.

Book Review

The Wheel of Time RPG Book

The Wheel of Time RPG sourcebook is a typical manual in thebeginning. The first few sections contain instructions on creating a character. The information ranges from abilities, attributes, and background details. Ever wanted to know the true difference of a Taraboner and a Cairheinen. Well the section on background is so detailed, it seems that Robert Jordan wrote the text himself. The chapters thereafter describe the Feats and Skills each character can take. Wonder what the Dark One’s own luck does, read the book and find out.

The next sections are what makes this source book a must have for WoT fans. The chapter on Channeling is so detailed that you feel like you are learning the weaves from the White Tower. The section containsyour regular weave as well as lost and rare weaves. Each weave is detailed on range, effect, and level of power. Also each weave are sorted by categories like Elementalism and Healing. All of the creatures and Shadowspawn from the series are written in detail along with their stats and an artist drawing. Even the bios and the pictures of the main characters from the books are more detailed than any other books to date. The book also includes information on Tel’aran’rhiod and the Ways. The WoT RPG contains a small adventure in the back for players to be drawn into the world. It allows a small introduction into the world and for first time players.

Written by Segurant

Movie Review

Spiderman

Spiderman, the movie, is much like it’s predecessor the comic and the cartoon, except for one small fact. The spider is not gamma radiated, but genetically enhanced. There are a few other small things that are different from the movie and the comic, but all in all the portayal of the classic comic book character was excellent.

If you like a love story, check the movie out. If you like action adventure stories, check the movie out. Spiderman caters to all types of movie goers.

Toby Maquire (sp?) plays Spiderman to a T and Kirsten Dunst makes a very good red head playing Mary Jane. The movie leaves you hanging. So be prepared to check the next two Spiderman movies out. Yes, I said two. Toby Maguire received 4 million dollars for this film and will receive a total of 26 million for the next two flicks. I’d say we’ll see the next two. According to a radio stations entertainment news we will see Spiderman II November 21, 2003.

Music Review

Flammable: Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Before Flammable: Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the only band I’m aware of that had covered the funky monks was All Saints, with their execrable 1998 version of “Under the Bridge.” Their crime was one of missing the point: one of the two heavily overplayed songs of the Chili Peppers’ breakthrough 1992 Blood Sugar Sex Magik disc, “Under the Bridge” spoke of pain, despair and drug addiction — something the airbrushed pop tarts couldn’t exactly pull off convincingly by sticking to their usual heavily produced harmonies.

That’s the challenging thing about reinterpreting someone else’s music. It’s not about imitating the original, or just bending lyrics to suit your style. It’s about finding a theme in the original, drawing it out and building your own voice on top of the framework. The Chili Peppers know this — they’ve successfully covered Jimi Hendrix, Iggy and the Stooges and Stevie Wonder, to name a few — and All Saints clearly didn’t.

Listening to Flammable: Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I realized that there are others who need to learn All Saints’ lesson. The first and last tracks illustrate how wildly uneven Flammable is. Owl’s take on “Behind the Sun” extends its already mellow flavor and wraps a layer of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” trippiness around the original’s spacey lyrics. The result is a bubbly joy you normally wouldn’t associate with the Chili Peppers’ testosterone-laced funk. On the other end of the spectrum (and the disc), George Sarah’s “Me and My Friends” samples the opening riff a few times, then launches into a maddeningly generic techno grind that uses exactly none of the rest of the song. Why it’s on a Chili Peppers tribute album when 99 per cent of it is unrecognizable is beyond me.

“Under the Bridge” is here of course, painfully overwrought by the Solomon Burke Jr. Project. I like Burke’s voice, but when he works so hard at sounding heartfelt, it’s like Céline Dion deliberately over-emoting, if you can imagine such a thing. Then again, the original’s power comes from it being so personal, based on Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis’ struggle with the same heroin addiction that killed his best friend and bandmate Hillel Slovak; I’m not sure many people could pull it off.

With the exception of Tavu’s decidedly unfunky handling of the decidedly funky “The Power of Equality” (where no amount of screaming helps bring it closer to Kiedis’ moral outrage) the rest of the disc ranges from the adequate to the exemplary. The latter compliment I happily bestow on Gringo Floyd’s “Scar Tissue” and Capsule’s “Sexy Mexican Maid.” “Maid” is one of my favorite of the Chili Peppers’ special brand of perverse love songs. With the help of some DJ wizardry, original “Sexy Mexican Maid” hooks are morphed into a new soundscape that only loosely follows the original’s structure. The original elements are all there, though: the lustful lyrics sung with romantic longing, describing events in clear violation of an acceptable employer-domestic relationship, but sung with some saucy extra yearning by Capsule vocalist Laura Derby. The added frisson of girl-girl hijinks ups the naughtiness factor in an already naughty song, preserving the Chili Peppers’ flavor while making it an unmistakable Capsule performance. Now that’s a real tribute. | May 2001

Emru Townsend is a musically inclined freelance writer. (taken from Bluecoupe.com)

Anniversary/Birthdays/Promotions

Real Life Dates

The following is a list of Birthdays for this month

  • None public

The following is a list of Wedding Anniversary’s for this month

  • Matalina & Mandein (June 27th)

Warder Org Join Anniversarys & Promotions

The following is a list of Yearly Anniversaries

  • Dabril (2 years)
  • Lewin (2 years)
  • Dean Vandahla (1 year)
  • Vanair Sharkan (1 year)
  • Charlie (1 year)
  • Teslan (1 year)
  • Dias Peacecraft (1 year)
  • Xaria (1 year)
  • Jonas Nylan (1 year)
  • Eos (1 year)
  • Brian Lobyr (1 year)
  • Jerremy Hawkings (1 year)
  • Kyle Conner (1 year)
  • Jagard Dobraine (1 year)
  • John Mason (1 year)

The following is a list of Promotions for this month.

  • Dabril (2 years)
  • Lewin (2 years)
  • Dean Vandahla (1 year)
  • Vanair Sharkan (1 year)
  • Charlie (1 year)
  • Teslan (1 year)
  • Dias Peacecraft (1 year)
  • Xaria (1 year)
  • Jonas Nylan (1 year)
  • Eos (1 year)
  • Brian Lobyr (1 year)
  • Jerremy Hawkings (1 year)
  • Kyle Conner (1 year)
  • Jagard Dobraine (1 year)
  • John Mason (1 year)
  • At’akorin (9 months)
  • Yujiko (9 months)
  • Tristan Carolina (9 months)
  • Oslen (9 months)
  • Joseph_Davian (9 months)
  • Arizhel Wyndstrom (9 months)
  • Daerien Avahre (9 months)
  • oron Dijatcal (9 months)
  • Kyrukan (9 months)
  • Solas duFarceur (9 months)
  • al’Langaris (9 months)
  • Keith al’Baraak (9 months)
  • Ghaldean (6 months)
  • Dante Treaus (6 months)
  • Carrog Gaidin(3 months)
  • Axel (3 months)
  • Corax (3 months)
  • Paetr (3 months)
  • Gabriel al’Massa (3 months)
  • Paige (3 months)
  • Huren al Rashid (3 months)
  • Erik Highlander (3 months)
  • naerik Jelal’ (3 months)
  • Dowdy34 (3 months)
  • Belaroth (3 months)
  • Talon Nachiman (3 months)
  • Dal Finlay (3 months)
  • Marx A’Neanu (3 months)
  • Wraith Blackmane (3 months)

Welcome New Members

The following is a list of new members to the Warders Org in the previous month, let’s welcome them with open arms.

  • Zor al’Kin
  • Brayton Orandu
  • Flaren Winsid
  • NoLan
  • Cadrin
  • Kain Zul’Gan De Meridian
  • Uriel Allien
  • Glazagore De’Athla
  • elmore
  • Deakin

Adding your Dates to the list

If you wish your birthdate, anniversary, etc to be announced in the monthly newsletter please send an email to birthdays@warders.ws and your date will be cataloged for the next upcoming date.

Projects/Announcements

Book Project still open

All orgs have been tasked to summarize and collect data for DM about each book. For every chapter you do you get an entry into a DM wide drawing for a free item in the DM store. If you would like to sign up for a chapter email Matalina. The Warders are doing the Great Hunt.

Diablo Gaming

As many of you know I recently hosted a Diablo II Ironman Tournament on Wed. 8th. I was very impressed by the turnout and we had a lot of fun. An Ironman tournament, for those that do not know, entails every player to create a new character. These characters cannot, by any means buy anything from any NPC. Every item must be obtained by finding them or by questing. This brings a new challenge into the game; characters now must share what they find and learn how to use their resources to the fullest. Also when a character dies, he or she really dies. This brings a Hardcore character element into the game. I want to thank and give praise to those that participated in this event:

Doc_Uzuki played an Amazon. With her, he was able to kill many foes before they even reached the party.

Kaeven played a Paladin. Using his powerful auras Kae was able to enhance our party ten fold and give us a good melee fighter.

Matsu Turi played a Barbarian. Using twin axes and skills of brute strength Turi was our front line fighter and could take on large numbers of enemies.

I played an Assassin. With twin Katars, guile, and speed I was able to destroy most enemies before they were able to react.

Portion of Gaming Article written by Aristos

Writers Workshops

Matalina is working on creating a Writers Workshop for all those interested in Writing. The first workshop is on Character Creation. This workshop is good not only for a writer but for all potential RPers out there. The next two workshops to follow Character Building is World Building and Conflict/Plot.

RP Information

Dragon Reborn PSW

The Amyrlin Seat is dead!

Age of Legends

This Portal Stone World is set mid-Collapse (when society was breaking down, the period between the Golden Age and the War of Power). The Bore has been drilled, the Chosen are turning, Lews Therin Telemon is First amoung Servants. The Age of Legends is a mix between tech and magic so it’s good for those who want an RP environment that’s a little more advanced when it comes to technology while still having the magical element.

The RP is not up and running yet. When it is people will have the choice of joining The Aes Sedai Div, the Grove Div (Orgier, Wolfkin and Nym), the Shadow Div, or the Aiel/Freelander Div. They are working on a website at the moment and I will provide a link as soon as it is available. Mostly at the moment the Incarns (Dalinarius and Deanne) are ironing out details since RJ doesn’t give many.

The do have a set of boards up right now. They can be found at http://pub7.ezboard.com/bageoflegendspsw This link can also be found on the RP board of the DM main temp site.

New Public Portal Stone Worlds

Nothing new atm.

Gaming Article

I want to welcome and thank you all for reading my article. I am very excited about keeping you all informed on the world of gaming and bringing you opportunities to game with other Dragonmount members. In this monthly article I will keep you up to date on upcoming games releases, Dragonmount gaming events, and anything else dealing with the wide world of games.

Recent Events:
As many of you know I recently hosted a Diablo II Ironman Tournament on Wed. 8th. I was very impressed by the turnout and we had a lot of fun. An Ironman tournament, for those that do not know, entails every player to create a new character. These characters cannot, by any means buy anything from any NPC. Every item must be obtained by finding them or by questing. This brings a new challenge into the game; characters now must share what they find and learn how to use their resources to the fullest. Also when a character dies, he or she really dies. This brings a Hardcore character element into the game. I want to thank and give praise to those that participated in this event:

Doc_Uzuki played an Amazon. With her, he was able to kill many foes before they even reached the party.

Kaeven played a Paladin. Using his powerful auras Kae was able to enhance our party ten fold and give us a good melee fighter.

Matsu Turi played a Barbarian. Using twin axes and skills of brute strength Turi was our front line fighter and could take on large numbers of enemies.

I played an Assassin. With twin Katars, guile, and speed I was able to destroy most enemies before they were able to react.

Upcoming Events:
Those of you who could not participate for some reason do not worry. I will be hosting many gaming events in the near future and I expect each to be very fun. In the next two months I hope to host a multitude of online RPG games such as Baldurs Gate, Summoner, Dungeon Siege and many others. Keep your eyes peeled for announcements, and read this article for confirmed dates.

Games of interest:
Dungeon Siege- a Diablo like RPG game set in medieval times where you play a simple farmer who must build up enough skill and gather powerful allies to destroy a great evil which plagues the land.

My thoughts: Not to shabby of a game, graphics will remind you of a cartoon and the camera views are great. Unlike Diablo you have a whole party to level and you don’t have to stick with one certain class. You can be just as good with a melee weapon as you are magic. The game is a little tedious though and the storyline needs some work. The world is HUGE and you will spend ages just roaming around trying to get from one place to the other. If you like RPG games this is a must.

Jedi Outcast- Set in the world of Star Wars you play an outcast Jedi who must take up the Lightsaber and the awesome Jedi powers once more to save the universe.

My thoughts: I played this game once or twice at a friend’s house and utterly love it. Unlike its predecessor you can interact with almost EVERYTHING in the game. And best of all you have 3 different styles of fighting to choose from and each style has a different effect on the Saber form you use. Those of you who are Warders or have a sword using character will find this game very enjoyable. Also Jedi powers are very cool, each has 3 power levels and are very realistic. Powers include, Jedi mind trick, Jedi Jump, Jedi Speed, Choking grasp, Force Lightning and many others. Unfortunately this game is VERY strict on what video cards it supports and can use. Even if you think you have the top line card you will find that Jedi Outcast will utterly hate your Glide drivers. And for those of you with older cards.don’t even buy the game. You are going to waist 45 bucks on a game you can’t play. If you like Star Wars you will love this game.

Resident Evil for Game Cube- you play as Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. Members of a Team known as S.T.A.R.S. A virus has struck changing people into zombies and mutating other creatures. You and your team must stop this and find out who is behind it.

My thoughts: I have seen the game played and I have played the original game for Playstation. If you liked the first you will enjoy this version very much. Graphics are ten times better and there are things that will pop up during the game that didn’t in the first.

I hope you have all enjoyed this article. In the future I will add new sections like, “Reviews by DM Members”, “Codes and Spoilers” and others. Please look forward to them.

Do you have a game you would like reviewed? Is there something you would like to comment on? Any complaints or suggestions? Send me your thoughts at morzanwiz@mailcity.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Written by Aristos

Humor

Do Fades have noses?

The rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan newsgroup embroiled itself in a vehement debate, some time ago, as Jordan-obsessed artists struggled to depict Myrddraal: do Fades have eyebrows? Unfortunately, this question only skirts a much more important question, namely, how to depict a Myrddraal: nose or no nose?

Personally, I have no doubts: the nose is absent. Suits my personal sense of aesthetics. Jordan repeatedly insists on a egg-smooth face, presumably lacking a nose. Despite frequent mentions of Myrddraal, and detailed descriptions of their faces, a nose is never mentioned.

The WoT presents a face that is “From oily black hair to puffy cheeks … as smooth as an eggshell.” (TEotW: 17, 247, Watchers and Hunters) Surely a “… smooth expanse of pale, pasty face …” (TDR: 29, Prologue) leaves no room for a nose. “barefaced” (TEotW: 51, 761, Against the Shadow) I presume means noseless, and “… a dead-white sweep of skin where eyes should be …” (TFoH: 22, 398, Birdcalls by night), while it does not disallow for such a facial feature, surely would not be called a sweep if a nose were present.

Given that noselessness has been established, or is very probable at the least, why would Jordan not have mentioned so great an oversight? Think of the unexplored literary possibilities: “The look of the Noseless is fear”, or perhaps “The sniff of the Noseless is death”; “Wolf images were complex: Neverborn, but also they were scentless two-legs, Leafblighter’s Unnosed …” The very mention of a Myrddraal’s noselessness could enhance the ominous, chilling quality of Jordan’s description.

I further note that Fades are referred to as Halfmen. Not Halfpeople, never Halfwomen; there are no females. They are Neverborn, that is, not born of a mother, a female of the species. Only makes sense within the framework of the WoT; the ability to sniff is requisite for any of Jordan’s female characters. Coincidence? I think not — Fades are, must be, noseless.

Then again, perhaps the Noseless *can* sniff, just as the Eyeless can stare. Perhaps I’ve gotten it all wrong: “The Halfwoman audibly sniffed, and tugged at her black cloak.”

Taken from Paul Postuma’s Robert Joradan Page

Classified Ads

Man looking for woman to bond to.

Sedia looking for good warder with strong back to carry books.

]]> http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/the-pen-and-the-sword-warders-org-newsletter-june-2002/feed/ 0 Warder Org Info http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warder-org-info/ http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warder-org-info/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:23:04 +0000 WT Org http://whitetower.org/?p=165 “He started off again, and soon heard a ferocious clatter from one side ahead, like dozens of sticks being beat together. Curious, he turned off toward it, into the trees. A little way brought him to a large expanse of bare ground, the earth beaten hard, at least fifty paces across and nearly twice as long. At intervals around it under the trees stood wooden stands holding quarterstaffs, and practice swords made of strips of wood bound loosely together, and a few real swords and axes and spears. Spaced across the open ground, pairs of men, most stripped to the waist, flailed at each other with more practice swords. Some moved so smoothly it almost seemed they danced with one another, flowing from stance to stance, stroke to counterstroke in continuous motion. There was nothing quickly apparent aside from skill to mark them from the others, but Mat was sure he was watching Warders.” — The Dragon Reborn, Scouting and Discoveries, Chap. 24 pg. 280pb (Robert Jordan)

Warder Policy

This document explains what it means to be a Member of the Warders Organization and part of its community. The rules and regulations and advancement, anything having to do with the Warders is in this one document.

Why to join the Warder’s Organization.

What is a Warder? By the book definition a Warder is a warrior bonded to an Aes Sedai, but by our defintion a Warder is a person who takes the ideal Warder Characteristics found in the books and finds that they are similar to your ideals. We do allow bonding in an Out of Character fashion, however this bond is a recongition of friendship rather that what it represents in the books. If you can identify with what it means to be a Warder, then this is the place for you.

Introduction

The Warder’s Org is different from other Orgs as there is no ranks inside of the organization. The look of a rank is just merely an indication of the amount of time you’ve been affliated with the Warders Organization. There are 6 different category of members that are all time based. (New Member, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, & 2 year). You will gain your new icon based on your activity. (Defintion of Activity: Logging in to the Warders once a month.) Participation is not mandatory, but is encouraged. We try to cater to all our members and to make activities all of you can participate in. Any member who doesn’t not request a leave of absense will be placed into the inactive category until the time they do return and request to be take out of inactive status. Inactive status will be given when a member has not logged in prior to the end of the month. Every 15th of the month all newly inactive members will be given notice via email and come the end of the month if they’ve not logged in they will be placed on Inactive.

The Warders have no goal, we only wish to help furter your fun at Dragonmount, be it by Book Discussions or Games played with other members of the Organization. If you have an activity you’d like to see done, please contact Matalina and give her your idea. Help is always welcome in the Warders.

Need help?

The following are list of people who can help you.

Master at Arms – Matalina
Genearl Warder Staff – staff@warders.ws
RP Contact – Alin

Warder Staff Contact Information

Staff Title Handle & Email ICQ
Master at Arms Matalina 28949258
Mistress of Greeting Mandi ?
Warder Head Master Segurant ?
Warder Game Master Aristos ?
RP Ambasador Alin ?
Head of Public Relations David ?
Art Exective ? ?
Newsletter Editor Mandi ?

Warder Ranks

All Ranks are based on the time you’ve been an active member of the Warder’s Organization.

Definition: Activity – Logging in to the Warder’s Organization once every calendar month.

List of Ranks

  • Staff
  • 2 year Warder
  • 1 year Warder
  • 9 months Warder
  • 6 months Warder
  • 3 months Warder
  • New Member Warder
  • Inactive

In order to move from New Member Warder to any of the above ranks the New Member Join Form must be filled out by the time you are up for promotion.

Specialty Ranks

All Active Warders are entitled to specialty Ranks. Specialty Ranks require more than activity to be gained. The following is a list of requirements to gain Specialty Ranks.

  1. New Member Join Form
  2. Two Specialty Projects from approved list
Specialty Project List
Book Specialty Participate in two Book Discusssions
Submit two Book Discussion Topics
Write up a Theory
Art Specialty Participate in Art Contest
Submit two Art items to Org

Rules for Specialty Ranks

To maintain your specialty Rank you must remain active. If you do not tell the Master at Arms you are going on leave you will lose all work done towards your Specialty icons.

All Active Members may have more than one Specialty Rank, however only one icon may be used at a time. You may switch your icon once every calendar month.

Activity

At the end of every month the Warder Staff will move all inactive members from their current rank to Inactive.

If you know you will be gone longer than one month then you must tell the Master at Arms you are going on leave. Send an email to onleave@warders.ws telling the Master at Arms you are going on Leave.

Approximately on the 15th of every month all active members who have not logged in as of yet will be notified that their account is inactive and that if they fail to log in before the end of the month their character will be put on inactive list, hereby losing all specialty work and ranks.

]]> http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warder-org-info/feed/ 0 Warders Org Armory: Comparative Ranges http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-org-armory-comparative-ranges/ http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-org-armory-comparative-ranges/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:02:57 +0000 WT Org http://whitetower.org/?p=164 Compared Effective Ranges:

Longbow ——— 40 Yards………… Blowgun n/a ——5-20 Yards

Shortbow ——– 30 Yards…………….. Comp. Long —– 60 Yards

Comp. Short —– 50 Yards…………….. Heavy Cross. —- 70 Yards

Hand Cross. —– 10 Yards……………… Sling ————- 15 Yards

Staffsling ———-25 Yards………… Javelin n/a ——–10-25 Yards

Note: Many thanks to Radzynne, Ghalren, Stefen, and Dienekes who made this armory possible with thier contributions.

]]> http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-org-armory-comparative-ranges/feed/ 0 Warders Org Armory: Bows, Missiles and Throws http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-org-armory-weapons/ http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-org-armory-weapons/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:01:18 +0000 WT Org http://whitetower.org/?p=162 Bows, Missles and Throws

The longbow

The long bow is the simplest of all drawn bows. It is a straight shaft of a strong, springy wood tapered to a point and the capped with horn (or bone) at each end, it has a combination grip/arrow rest just below the middle of the shaft. Its proper unstrung length is from the ground to the shooter’s shoulder (a weapon that is too short WILL break when drawn and it IS painful). It is strung into an arc and held in the hand of the outstretched left arm of the shooter along the line of the shoulders. The string is drawn to the right corner of the shooter’s mouth with the right hand. This weapon can take years to master}

The Shortbow

The Shortbow or “Horsebow” is a bow designed for use from horseback or by light troops. It has a far shorter range than the longbow but is much less cumbersome, some consider it less accurate. It is made in the same way as the longbow but usually from a stronger wood and that, combined with it’s length, makes a bit harder to draw. Its proper unstrung length is from the ground to the shooter’s waist. When fired it is held in the left hand straight away from the body and is drawn to the centre of the chest. It can also take years to master this bow.

Composite bows

Composite bows come in both long and short varieties and are generally considered to be superior to their simpler brethren. They are made on demand to suit the individual shooter and no man can properly shoot another’s composite bow. They consist of the same shaft of strong wood, but it is curved out at the ends to create a “recurve” effect when the bow is drawn, (that is, the ends curl back the other way, against the main curve of the bow) The shaft is further reinforced by long strips of inflexible horn on both the inside and the outside of the main arc. The “sandwiched” shaft is the wrapped completely in several layers of wet sinew, each allowed to dry before the next is applied. The composite has far better range, power and accuracy than other drawn bows, but is also much harder to draw and harder to maintain. It is very sensative to moisture and temperature changes and strings must be changed frequently to avoid them breaking. Like the other drawn bows it takes years to master but it can also take up to 5 years to properly manufacture such a weapon

The Crossbow

The crossbow comes in many shapes and sizes. The smallest can fit into a pocket and shoot accuratly over a few feet and the largest are used a seige artillery and can be accuratly fired almost a mile. Crossbows fire either stones (ranging from marble size to the size of a man’s head) or bolts (from a few inches in length to several feet). They consist of a bowshaft fastened horizontally to the front of a perpendicular (look it up)stock. The stock has a lock or trigger mechanism that holds the drawn bowstring taut and releases the bolt or stone when the trigger is squeezed. Crossbows are made using bow simple and composite bows and some are even made with extremely springy steel. A tyical heavy crossbow can easily fire over 70 yards and can knock an armored horseman out of his saddle at 50. It is an extremely easy weapon to use as it generally has a sighting device and one doesn’t have to hold the bowstring taut. It can simply be pointed and fired. The advantages of this weapon are that it is extremely accurate and powerful, extremely easy to use and master and can be carried long distances loaded and cocked. The main downfall of the crossbow is that it cannot be fired rapidly. They are mainly loaded by means of a foot loop on the front of the weapon,but there are also loading levers or “goats feet” that may be used to draw the string. Some examples have a far weaker bow but use a “pump” or slide to draw the string. There have even been ones with two bows, one above the other, to give the shooter a second shot before having to reload.

The Sling

The sling is a hand weapon used to throw stones or lead pellets. It consists of a long leather thong with a leather “cup” positioned in the middle to hold the projectile. At one end of the thong a loop is tied and is hung around the thumb or forefinger of the user. The other end is grasped in the same fist. After the projectile is inserted, the folded-over sling is then whirled about the head several times to generate momentum and then the free end is released, propelling the projectile forward. Range is very limited as is force, but it is a small, light weapon and easy to make and conceal. This weapon is usually used for hunting, however, in expert hands can be a very effective close range weapon in battle. (Ever heard of David?) Its length is usually twice the distance from the user’s hip to their knee.

The Staffsling

This weapon generally consists of a short sling mounted on the end of a small staff. The sling is attached by means of a small metal loop on the end of the staff to which one end is tied. The other end is tied into a loop and placed on a small metal hook in the end of the staff. After the projectile is placed in the cup the user grasps the staff with the dominant hand about in the middle of the staff’s length and the other hand near the staff’s bottom. The weapon is then raised overhead and swung down as hard as possible. The hooked end will release at the height of the arc, releasing the projectile. It is both more powerful and more accurate than the sling due to the extra leverage the staff provides. While range is still rather short and the weapon is more cumbersome than the sling, it can be fired far more rapidly. Neither weapon will punch through armor but both make excellent hunting companions. The length of the staff and sling vary greatly from example to example. his weapon, like the sling, can be mastered easily with a little practice.

Lance

The term “lance” originally referred to spears wielded by footmen and cavalry. It eventually referred only to cavalry spears. Lance design varies between cultures and eras. Generally, the lance is a long shaft of tough wood, usually ash, with an iron head in the shape of a laurel or willow leaf, with cutting edges and a sharp point meant to penetrate armor. Lances are meant to be gripped close to the bottom, putting a great distance between the wielder and his target. As a rule, the lance is aimed diagonally above the horse’s neck. The opponents face each other with their left sides oncoming. Along with almost any variety of sword, the lance is considered the best offensive weapon for mounted soldiers. Some knights carry a small fabric pennant affixed just below the lance head. These pennants are either triangular or square, and carry the colors or symbols of the knight’s family or liege.In parades, lances are held vertically, with the butt set in a stirrup or on the horseman’s right thigh. On a march, the lance is held across the shoulder, across the saddlebow, or horizontally alongside the horse.

Quarterstaff

The simplest and humblest of staff weapons, the quarterstaff is a length of wood ranging six to nine feet in length. High quality quarterstaves are made of stout oak and are shod with metal at both ends. The quarterstaff must be wielded with both hands.

Awl Pike

Also known just as a “pike” and a Morris pike (corruption of Moorish), this is an infantry spear ranging 16 to 22 feet in length. Awl heads are usually leaf- or lozenge-shaped. The pole is made of a strong wood, such as ash. Many pike heads are made with two tongues of steel, nailed down the sides of the shaft in order to prevent the head from getting hacked off. The grip is often bound with cloth and the butt capped in steel to prevent the shaft from splitting.

Spear

One of man’s earliest weapons, dating back to the most primitive of times, the first spears were simply wooden poles or sticks sharpened at one end. When fire was discovered and mastered, spear points were hardened by charring. As man became more adept at using tools, spears were either fitted with a stone head or the point was reinforced with splints of stone or bone. When man mastered metals, spear heads were made from iron and steel. Having reached this end, weaponers began experimenting with different types of spear heads, thus leading to the development of certain polearm types such as the ranseur. Spear shafts are usually made from yew or ash, since these woods are both flexible and strong. The shafts range five to eleven feet in length. In melee, spears may be used either one or two handed, with more damage inflicted if used in the latter mode. Spears 10 feet or longer cannot be wielded with one hand.

The Javelin

This weapon is a short, straight spear made of light wood tipped with metal, bone, flint or simply with one end sharpened and hardened in fire. The shaft is generally about 2/3 the user’s height (including tip) and about 1 inch in diameter. Its light construction makes it unsuitable for thrusting. It is thrown either over or under hand by the users dominant arm. Over hand tends to be the more powerful throw, but does reqire a running start to get any effect out of the weapon while light weapons can be under-handed without moving. Range, power and accuracy depend greatly on the individual’s strength and skill. The weapon’s basic funtion can generally be mastered in a few tries, but accuracy and power may take weeks of instensive work

The Blowgun

A dart firing weapon consisting of a hollow tube made of metal or wood. It varies in length from 1 foot 5 feet and the tube’s diameter can be anywhere from 1/4 of an inch to 1 inch. The dart, generally about 4 inches in length, is tipped with a needle-sharp metal or wooden point (usually poisoned) on one end and on the other has a stop made of feathers or leather. It is inserted point down into one end of the weapon and pressed in an inch or so, the stop wil completely plug the tube. The weapon is then raised to the shooter’s mouth and, after it is aimed, the shooter blows their hardest into the stopped end of the tube to propel the dart. An effective weapon for hunting and assanination it is basically useless in battle or against an armored target (who would more than likely laugh at you and then break you blowgun). Range is generally pretty short and power is greatly effected by the force and amount of air blown into the tube. Accuracy is extremely good within the weapon’s range. Basic usage skill is instantaneous, a few shots and you’re a master. Try to avoid sucking darts back into your mouth though.

Battle Axe

Contrary to popular artwork, the most common version of the battle axe is a stout pole about four feet in length with a single-edged, trumpet-shaped blade mounted on one end. Battle axes are also called broad axes. The battle axe is a footman’s weapon, giving these soldiers a longer reach and a fighting chance against mounted opponents. Its long handle allows the wielder to put considerable force into his swing. Despite the shaft length, a battle axe is a one-handed weapon.

Dagger

The typical dagger has a pointed, usually double-edged blade, as opposed to a knife, which has a single edge and is a bit shorter than the dagger.

Morning Star

Perhaps one of the most violent weapons ever conceived, the morningstar. With a three to five foot haft it is designed to be wielded two-handed against mounted knights. The head of the weapon bristles with long, sharp metal spikes designed to pierce armour and draw blood. Often mounted atop the weapon is a longer spike like that of a polearm. Heavy and somewhat unwieldy, the mornigstar is still quite a fearsome weapon.

Maul

Another tool converted for warfare, the maul is little more then a glorified sledgehammer designed for military use. Three to four feet long, the heavy head of the maul was is almost always square in shape. The maul is used mainly in battle by light footman against dismounted knights and archers.

Warhammer

Only one to two feet long, the warhammer is just as the name implies. A hammer designed with a larger strinking head intended to crack heavier versions of plate armour. The reverse side of the head often contains another blunt hammer, or a short spike for punching through armour.

Flail

The flail has two very diffrent forms and actually should be considered two diffrent weapons. The most common form of flail is that used on horseback. The horseman’s flail is just another tool, the grain flail, converted for military purposes. It is altered from the original tool by replacing the rope with a sturdy chain from three to four feet in length attached to heavy metal ball that may or may not be spiked. The handle is meant or single handed use, and may be used with a shield. It is especially adept at tying up other weapons. The footman’s version is an entirely different weapon all together. It has a much longer haft and is intended for two-handed use. The sturdy, oft-spiked head is not joined by chain to the haft, but is rather joined by a single hinge. Incredibly powerful and heavy it can deliver incredible blows primarily to crack and crush armour.

Mace

Another weapon with two distict versions, again one designed for horseback and another for footman. The footman’s mace has a two to three foot haft capped with a heavy iron or bronze head. There are many different types of heads for many purposes. A spherical ball for crushing attacks, spiked for piercing plate armour, and flanged for softer varieties of armour. The footman’s mace can be wielded effectively with either one or two hands. The horseman’s mace is almost exactly the same, but in a smaller proportion. They are smaller and lighter for ease of use on horseback.

Club

The oldest weapon and the most readily availible. Can be anything from a table leg, to an animals bone, to lute, and even a work of art. The great club is two-handed and is distictively different. Still not a finese weapon the thick wooden haft of a great club is often frought with iron or bronze bands, or even have nails driven through them almost converting the weapon to a morningstar. Another version of the club is the highly specialized war club which are carefully crafted for balance, speed, and power. They are often studded with sharp stones or spikes to do more damage.

Bola

The bola is a missile of prehistoric origins. Currently, it is still used by arctic tribes and by savages who dwell on temperate plains. The main function of the bola is to provide a hunter with a good missile weapon that will catch the prey off guard and entangle it so as to make escape impossible. The bola is basically a leather strap or straps with weights fastened to the ends, although there are many variations to the design. Arctic bolas are generally used for hunting birds. The bola may have four, six, or ten weights made of walrus ivory or bone. The weights are egg-shaped, spherical, or carved into the likeness of animals. All of the straps or cords join together to make a sort of handle. The thrower grasps the handle, jerks back the strand to straighten them, whirls the bolas over his head, and releases them. Each bola strand is about 28 inches long and each weight is about two inches in diameter. Two-ball bolas are called somais; triple-ball bolas are achicos. Temperate plains bolas are usually twice as large and consist of a single leather thong with a leather-covered stone at each end. Often a second cord is fastened in the center of the first cord, with a small weight attached at the end. This weight is held by the thrower. This version of the bola can bring down a man-sized target.

]]> http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-org-armory-weapons/feed/ 0 Warders Org Armory: Armor http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-org-armory-armor/ http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-org-armory-armor/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:56:33 +0000 WT Org http://whitetower.org/?p=161 Armor and Shields

Armor

The first form of armor was a think covering of animal hide soon to evolve into leather armor. Unlike soft leather gloves or belts, leather armor is boiled in oils to become thick and stiff resistant to powerful blows. In most forms this armor consist of chest and shoulder protection, backing and soft leather leggings.

Scale armor is a rare item. Many small plates of metal are attached to a soft leather backing forming the appearance of fish scales. This armor is quite protective against missile weapons and blows but it is much more rigid than chain mail armor. Typically, scale armor is in the form of a shirt with a small skirt.

Chain mail consists of tens of thousands of links of metal forming a protecting and yet flexible suit of armor. While this armor is quite effective against slashing type weapons, it can easily be punctured by a long bow or similar weapon. In addition, because of its cloth-like nature, it provides little protection against heavy-ended weapons such as maces or flails. Chain armor in most commonly worn as a shirt or as a knee length skirt whose weight rest entirely on the shoulders. An average suit weighs anywhere from 35 to 45 pounds which makes wearing it for long periods of time undesirable.

Plate armor was developed to aid chain armor against long bow and heavy weapons. While a suit of plate and chain weighs slightly more than a suit of chain armor, the weight is distributed more evenly by straps and buckles. The full range of motion is hindered slightly but a man clad in plate armor is able to move with a surprising amount of easy.

Full Plate:

This armour is the very impressive and ornate armour used after the 15th Century. Designers now often paid more attention to aesthetics than to efficient design, and this is when fluting and spiky, elongated detailing became popular. The rounded, fluted Maximilian design is particularly famous, perhaps less so than the even more ornate Italian armours of the 16th Century, covered as they were with embossed figures and designs.

Tournament armour is also included in this type. In the 15th and 16th Centuries, the wearing of armour was increasingly for ritual and the joust than for combat, and the designs reflect this. The shoulder plate of the left arm was extended to cover most of the chest, and the elbow was locked in position. The gauntlet included a mount for a shield. These extra pieces were often designed so they could be added to existing armour, thus adapting a “battlefield” suit for the joust. Also popular in tournament was foot combat, and new types of armour evolved for this as well. They often afforded more mobility than armour for mounted warriors, as in many tournaments grappling and wrestling were allowed (and often proved fatal to those who engaged in it, later tournaments erected barriers between opponents). The bascinet was made to be screwed on to the gorget as it was found that the conventional straps had a tendency to snap. A globular visor with heavy ribbing was popular. Some German designs incorporated a metal skirt, conical in shape, reaching almost to the knees.

In the 17th Century, this type of armour fell into decline and ceased to be used on the battlefield. Gunpowder weapons could penetrate more thickness of armour than a man could carry, and armour was used more and more for ceremony and parades. Armour of this period is even more baroque, but much less effective than it’s predecessors.

Field Plate:

Field plate is the battlefield version of full plate armour. It was used in the late middle ages, and by the time of it’s adoption mail had become obsolescent, being used in this armour only for the mail fauld or codpiece. Some designs covered every inch of the wearer in metal plate, while others paid attention to the front of the body, leaving the backs of the legs exposed or sheathed in mail. The neck was fully protected, and the gorget locked with the bascinet in such a way as to fully protect the throat and prevent the visor from accidentally opening. Many suits of this type did not enclose the entire torso with a breastplate, often using two or three plates to achieve the same purpose.

Armour of this type was made for it’s wearer alone. It was not as hard to move in as many suspect, and a trained man could move quite normally.

Banded Mail:

Banded mail consisted of small, overlapping flat metal rings sewn on to leather, linen or velvet. One row would be overlapped on the right edge, the next on the left, the one after on the right again and so on. The material that they were sewn on was gathered into a roll or tuck in between the rows which separated them and made sure the rings stayed flat, it is these bands of material that give rise to the name.

Barding:

The mounted warrior would want to protect his expensive mount wherever possible. To this end, it seemed logical to armour the mount as well as it’s rider. Chain barding took the form of a coat the horse would wear, fitting around the base of the neck and hanging down to the horse’s hips. An extended coif-like garment protected the neck and head. Padding was usually worn underneath, as was the practice with the rider. Chain barding dates from the availability of chain mail. Most barding followed this pattern, the horse’s legs were usually left exposed, although doubtless some horses wore a form of greave on their shins. Plate barding enclosed the horse’s body in plates, and had an articulated extension for the neck. The horse’s head would often be guarded, but protection did not extend to the jaw and underside of the head, these areas being hard to attack anyway. Scale barding was available in partial or full form, the partial form protecting the head, neck, chest, and front quarters of the beast; and the full version also covering the hindquarters and flanks. It is manufactured in the same way as the scale mail worn by men, and was available from the same time period. Brigandine armour was similar to scale, as was the soldier’s version, but generally was available only in half versions. By the time full barding came to be introduced, most cavalry used chain or scale. It was available from the time of brigandine for soldiers. Padded and leather armours also were made in the same way as for men, and were available in half or full versions. The principle advantage of these armours was their low weight, making them more suitable for the lighter war-horse.

Brigandine:

This armour is made from small metal plates sewn on to leather backing, much like fish scales. It is similar to scale mail, and generally took the form of a sleeveless overcoat. It was found to be superior to mail, especially against missiles, whose growing power it was designed to overcome. The plates were usually made of iron, or sometimes bronze (barbarian tribes did not always have the technology to smelt iron). The main difference between this type and scale mail is that this armour usually took the form of a surcoat, whereas scale mail often included sleeves and leggings as well (and, for ease of movement, the plates were often smaller on scale mail).

Bronze plate mail:

This was the first complete body armour suit anywhere. It is not the stylised breastplates associated with the period, these date from much later, but was made from smaller plates, much like plate mail (as the name suggests). It gave protection to the torso and shoulders, and often a helmet and greaves would be worn with it. It did suffer from the limitations of bronze (a soft metal), and was inferior to iron or steel armour. Although the PHB says that mail was worn as well, mail was not used until ironworking technology had become widespread, by which time bronze was no longer used.

Shields

There are several versions of the standard shield. A buckler, the smallest version, consisting of either a protective disk roughly the size of a dinner plate secured by a strap to the forearm or a shaving basin shape with a hand grip inside. Both designs are used for more elegant forms of combat such as daggers or rapiers. While they are quick to employ they are a poor defense against larger weapons such as great axes or two-handed swords.

A kite shield is a common shape for a medium sized shield. Often worn by cavalry, these shields provide ample protection from missile weapons and melee weapons of all sizes. Because of their size, it is common for these shields to be made from wood with metal reinforcements fixed with leather straps to the forearm. While shields of this size offer excellent protection, there is the inconvenience of restricted movement and a weighty defense.

Tower shields, sometimes called body shields, are designed to protect the bearer from arrows shot in a volley. These are made from thick lengths of wood reinforced with metal so as to make movement possible. The obvious disadvantage to this type of shield is its awkwardness in melee combat

]]> http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-org-armory-armor/feed/ 0 Aiel Members list circa 2003 http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/dmgeneralarchive/aiel-members-list-circa-2003/ http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/dmgeneralarchive/aiel-members-list-circa-2003/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:42:46 +0000 WT Org http://whitetower.org/?p=159 * Jhirrad Clan Chief
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]]> http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/dmgeneralarchive/aiel-members-list-circa-2003/feed/ 0 Warders Guild Ranks Jan. 2003 http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-guild-ranks-jan-2003/ http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-guild-ranks-jan-2003/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:53:06 +0000 WT Org http://whitetower.org/?p=155 Sword Captain

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]]> http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/warders-guild-ranks-jan-2003/feed/ 0 WT Org Staff 2003-2005 http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/wt-org-staff-2003-2005/ http://whitetower.org/2009/dm-history-archive/wtarchive/wt-org-staff-2003-2005/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:43:43 +0000 WT Org http://whitetower.org/?p=153 2003:

The White Tower Community Staff:

2004:

2005:

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