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Belfry: Also known as a siege tower, a belfry
is a wheeled, wooden tower. At or near the top
of a belfry is a wooden drawbridge, which is dropped
onto the battlements as soon as the tower is moved
within reach. Thereafter, the occupants of the belfry
storm over the battlements of the enemy. Sometimes,
an additional floor is added so that archers
may fire down into the positions of the enemy.
Some belfries are equipped with a battering ram on
the lowest level. Hides drenched with water or aged
urine cover a belfry to protect its occupants. Moving
a belfry is problematic, since it tips easily; the
ground must be leveled and smooth. BCT is 3
months for an engineer and carpenter.
Catapult: An ancient weapon, a well-built
catapult launches a projectile up to 700-800 yards.
The catapult functions by torsion. The heaviest
stone that may be hurled is 180 lbs. With this projectile,
a catapult inflicts 2d100 IP or LP. BCT is 1
month for an engineer and carpenter.
Cheiroballista: A ballista is essentially a large
crossbow that projects a spear which weighs around
a hundred pounds and has a metal head over a foot
in length. A cheiroballista is small and easily moved,
since its frame rests on wheels. The range is roughly
300 yards. This weapon inflicts 4d20 IP or LP. BCT
is 1 month for an engineer and carpenter.
Counter-Castle: This is a temporary castle
that is built by besiegers nearby the castle being besieged.
Lithobolus: The earliest torsion siege machine,
the lithobolus is a stone-thrower that is designed
to smash walls as well as characters. By appearance,
this machine looks like a larger ballista.
This rock-thrower needs a special bowstring with a
braided pouch. Typically, this machine is used to
hurl rocks that are either 30 or 170 pounds in weight.
The longest range with this weapon is 700 yards.
With a 30 lb. rock, this weapon inflicts 1d100 IP or
LP. With a 170 lb. rock, this weapon inflicts 2d100
IP or LP. BCT is 1 month for an engineer and carpenter.
Mantlet: This is a wooden or wicker shield
on a wheeled wooden frame. The shield is about 7
feet tall and 4-7 feet wide. A mantlet protects archers
as they approach a fortification. BCT is 1
week for a carpenter.
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Manuballista: A ballista is essentially a large
crossbow that projects a spear which weighs around
a hundred pounds and has a metal head over a foot
in length. The entire projectile is 5 feet long. A
manuballista is a small torsion arrow-throwing engine
that is stationary and without wheels. It is fired
by heavily pressing down on a pad on the back. The
range of a manuballista is about 300 yards; it is more
accurate than a regular ballista. This weapon inflicts
4d100 IP or LP. BCT is 1 month for an engineer.
Onager: Named after a pig that kicks rocks
behind itself when chased, an onager is an ancient,
heavy catapult. The frame of the onager is composed
of thick rectangular pieces of wood flat on
the ground. Through each side of the frame are
bored 2 holes through which run the skeins of rope.
The ropes are held in place by a washer and counterplate.
In the middle of the sinew ropes stick a single
arm that ends in a cup or a sling fitted for a stone.
The arm is cranked down with a lever, further
torsioning the skein, and is held in place by a ratchet
and pawl. When released the arm snaps forward
into a supported upright crossbar, which halts the
arm and drives the shot toward its intended target.
Onagers hurl 100 lb. rocks as far as 350 yards. This
machine is very powerful and heavy. Due to its
weight, it is difficult to move and is therefore used
as a stationary defensive or siege weapon. This
weapon inflicts 6d20 IP or LP. BCT is 1 month.
Trebuchet: A recent creation, this siege
weapon looks and functions similar to a catapult,
though performs far better. Instead of functioning
by torsion, this machine uses gravity to its advantage.
A large and heavy counterweight (up to 12,000
lbs.) is dropped, which propels the wooden arm (a
massive tree trunk) very quickly. The projectile from
a trebuchet moves at a low velocity, but a high trajectory,
and crashes down with devastating effect
on wood and stone. These machines cast their missiles
with precision. Various missiles may be utilized,
including stones, barrels of pitch, bodies of
dead horses and other animals often in a state of
decomposition, barrels of offensive or putrid matter,
and other missiles designed to cause pestilence.
A trebuchet is capable of hurling 1,400 lbs. up to 87
yards, and 100 lbs. up to 235 yards. With 1,400 lbs.,
this weapon inflicts 1d1000 IP or LP. BCT=1 mo.
Chapter 9: Equipment